Embassy attack was 'revenge'

Source: Agencies  |   2008-6-6  |     NEWSPAPER EDITION

DENMARK shared with Pakistani investigators a video of the suicide car bombing of its embassy in Islamabad, as an Internet posting yesterday, purportedly by al-Qaida, claimed responsibility and threatened more attacks.

The statement, signed by an al-Qaida commander in Afghanistan, said Monday's attack was to fulfill the promise of Osama bin Laden to exact revenge for the reprinting in Danish newspapers of a cartoon of Muhammad wearing a bomb-shaped turban.

The attack killed six people, including one Danish citizen. It caused widespread destruction and demonstrated the vulnerability of the Pakistani capital to attack.

The authenticity of the statement, which was posted on a Website frequently used by Islamic militants, could not be independently verified. It was signed by al-Qaida commander Mustafa Abu al-Yazeed.

It warned if Denmark fails to apologize for the cartoons, more attacks will follow and Monday's blast will "only be the first drop of rain." The attack is but a "warning to this infidel nation and whoever follows its example," it said. Denmark "published the insulting drawings" and later "refused to apologize for publishing them, instead they repeated their act," the posting said.

It said the bombing was carried out by an al-Qaida martyr whose last will and testament will soon be made public, and thanked Pakistani jihadists for helping execute the plot.

Denmark officials have already said they suspect al-Qaida was behind the attack. Pakistani officials were not immediately available to comment.

In early 2006, a dozen Muhammad cartoons, originally published in a Danish newspaper, triggered fiery protests in Muslim countries when they were reprinted by a range of Western media, mostly in Europe. The drawing that showed Muhammad in a bomb-shaped turban appeared again in Danish newspapers on February 13, after Danish police said they foiled a plot to murder the cartoonist.