Never mind that Germany is in Afghanistan in the first place as part of NATO, and in response to the 9/11 attacks by al-Qaeda’s jihadists. Aside from that, the threat is unusually specific — either spoken in extreme confidence that an attack will go forward, or intended to divert authorities’ time and energy and create a distraction from other jihadist operations.
“Germany: New Al-Qaeda message threatens October attack,” from Adnkronos International, October 5 (thanks to Sr. Soph):
Dubai, 5 Oct. (AKI) – A message purportedly by Al-Qaeda, and threatening terror attacks against Germany this month has been posted to the the jihadist ‘al-Fallujah’ website. The message, signed by ‘Mourabitton’ appears prominently on the website with a banner headline and appears alongside videos from Osama Bin Laden and Al-Qaeda’s number-two Ayman Al-Zawahiri. It follows several recent video threats against the country released by Al-Qaeda’s production arm As-Sahab.
“To the German nation of unbelievers, we warn you for the third time, telling you of the exact date of the attack,” wrote ‘Mourabittoun’, which means ‘forward base fighter’ in Arabic.
The message warns the attack will take place on one of the first Sundays in October. “That is a day of rest for you and for those who observe your religion,” the message read.
“To Muslims in Germany and abroad, we say: peace be with you,” the message states.
“After the election, we say to the unbeliever, Crusader German nation, may poison spill upon you and those who want war!”
Chancellor Angela Merkel’s ruling Christian Democrats won Germany’s general election on 27 September.
Several videos emerged ahead of the elections threatening Al-Qaeda attacks within Germany.
Those videos, made by As-Sahab, warned of an impending attack within two weeks of the elections if Germany’s 4,000 troops were not withdrawn from Afghanistan.
“The world still remembers New York, Washington’s black Tuesdays just as it recalls London’s black Thursday… You, however, are more fortunate, because you can choose and have chosen blood and destruction,” read the message by ‘Mourabittoun’.
“That’s why we have decided to give you what we already gave Madrid and London,” the message added.
“We just need to choose the city. Will it be Berlin’s turn? Or will this honour be awarded to another city such as Bonn, Frankfurt or Hamburg?” it asks.
“Angela Merkel, you have certainly drunk from the cup of victory. And you will drink again, but what you drink will have a different taste, because it will be the blood of your people, who voted for you and chose war.”
‘Mourabittoun’ calls on jihadists to spread the message across the Internet “to inform Germany’s population”.
Some jihadist website users have claimed ‘Mourabittoun’ is an Al-Qaeda sympathiser who in May last year posted a video to the currently disabled ‘Ekhlas’ extremist site threatening the US with a nuclear attack….