Another group claims responsibility for London attacks

The al-Qaeda-linked sect that claimed responsibility for the recent train bombings in Spain that killed 191 people has claimed responsibility today for this week's bloody London blasts in an Internet statement posted by the Europe Division of the network's Abu Hafs al-Masri Brigades.

U.S. and other officials were quick to question the claim, saying it did not conform to usual Qaeda language and style. The claim did not appear on major al Qaeda sites.

"A group of mujahedeen 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," the statement said, translated by Reuters. "The beginning was in Madrid and in Istanbul. Today, it's London and tomorrow the mujahedeen will express themselves again."

[...]

The statement is the third claim by myriad little-known Islamists groups since the blasts.

The language of all the statements has been vague and does not conform to al-Qaeda language and style. The brigade's relationship with al-Qaeda is unclear.

  Raw Story article

For background, see my earlier post, and the previous most recent one.

And this is rather absurd...

In the wake of the blasts, London's mayor sought to quell fears that his city wouldn't be suitable for the 2012 summer Olympic games. The capital was chosen the day before the attacks.

"We have reassured the [International Olympic Committee] that we have the security to handle the games," mayor Ken Livingstone told the Guardian. "The Metropolitan Police have huge experience in this area, were involved in the advisory group to the Athens games and will be involved again in Beijing.

Yeah, and now they have more experience.

How many people were killed on the transit system? And they're trying to assure the Olympic Committee that the place is secure for the how many tourists who presumably would be attending - and traveling - around London?

Hillary is probably trying to convince them that New York is safer.

....but hey, do what you want....you will anyway.

Update 7/11/05:

UK-based dissident denies link to website that carried al-Qaida claim