Spanish Bombers Take Credit For London

Group that hit Spain

claims UK attacks;

Third such claim

RAW STORY


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.

---But they DID jump right on the fist claim and advertise it IMMEDITATELY as Al Qaeda, the SECRET Group of Al Qaeda in Europe , no less. Wonder do they give decoder rings with membership?---

"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 group described the attack as a "laudable conquest" and warned of future attacks.

"The next days will be marked by the biggest demonstrations of jihad (holy war) against those who have declared war on Islam and Muslims," it said.

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.

British investigation continues

British investigators continue to pull bodies from a rat-infested subway tunnel under King's Cross terminal in London.

They say the bombs in London's mass transit system, dubbed 'the Tube,' were detonated by timers and weighed less than ten pounds each. The bombers are still at large.

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.

"The IOC know, through the experience of the 1972 Munich Olympics, that there is nowhere that can ever be completely safe," he added, "but there is nowhere that will be safer than London."

Because no suspects have been apprehended, some Britons worry of future attacks.

This story drew upon material from The Australian, Reuters, and The Guardian.