The count is up to three now, do I hear 4? From Zaman, with thanks to The One Who Must Not Be Named.
The al-Qaeda-linked terrorist group Abu Hafs al-Masri Brigades that claimed last year’s March 11 train bombings in Madrid said it was also behind Thursday’s blasts in London.
Another unknown organization claimed the blasts in London that killed at least 50 people and injured 700, Saturday. The Secret Organization of al Qaeda Europe had earlier claimed responsibility for the London blasts. An Internet statement by Abu Hafs al-Masri Brigades claiming responsibility for the Istanbul and Madrid blasts said, “A group of Mujahideen from a division of the Abu Hafs al- Masri Brigades piled blow after blow on the infidel capital, the British capital, leaving dead and injured. First there was Madrid, then Istanbul, and now London, and tomorrow the Mujahideen will have other words to say.” The Secret Organization of al Qaeda Europe had also released a statement claiming the blasts on an Internet site immediately after they occurred.
British Foreign Minister Jack Straw termed the deadly as “hallmarks of an al-Qaeda related attack”. As dead bodies continue to be discovered in subways in London, 25 people are still missing. Meanwhile, a missing Turkish female student, Gamze Guloran, who was in London for English summer school, has not been found. The Turkish Embassy in London say they have no information on her whereabouts. British police say the bombings were not suicide attacks and three bombs in the London metro had been exploded “simultaneously” within 50 seconds. The police also evacuated central Birmingham in a security alert. There are about 200 bars and clubs in Birmingham’s evacuated entertainment district…
British Prime Minister Tony Blair has pointed out that true Muslims have stood up and said terror had no links with their religious believes. In a BBC radio address Saturday, Prime Minister said Britain must fight against terrorism but also “pull it up by roots”. He said, “I think this type of terrorism has very deep roots. As well as dealing with the consequences of this, trying to protect ourselves as much as any civil society can, you have to try to pull it up by its roots.” Blair clarified that this meant encouraging people of different religions to understand each other, spreading democracy in the Middle East and alleviating tension between Israel and Palestine…
We beg you, Tony. Please! Crack open that Qur’an you’ve been carrying around and then get back to us…