Close X
Sunday, November 17, 2024
ADVT 
International

Al Qaeda warns France after terror attacks

Darpan News Desk IANS, 13 Jan, 2015 10:43 AM
    The Al Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM) has issued a warning to France after the country's spate of terror attacks over the past week.
     
    "France pays the cost of its violence on Muslim countries and the violation of their sanctity," AQIM, the north African branch of the Al Qaeda, said in a statement published on jihadi websites, CNN reported.
     
    "As long as its soldiers occupy countries such as Mali and Central Africa and bombard our people in Syria and Iraq, and as long as its lame media continues to undermine our Prophet (Mohammed), France will expose itself to the worst and more."
     
    France is reeling from an attack at the Charlie Hebdo satirical newspaper, which killed 12 people Wednesday, the death of a policewoman Thursday, and the siege of a Jewish supermarket Friday that left four hostages dead.
     
    Three terrorists in the attacks were killed, but a suspected co-conspirator remains on the loose -- possibly in Syria.
     
    The warning from AQIM comes just before Charlie Hebdo, known for its controversial depiction of the Prophet Mohammed, is set to publish again Tuesday. The issue will hit newsstands Wednesday.
     
    This time, the cover features a drawing of a frowning Prophet Mohammed with a teardrop coming from his eye.
     
    "All is Forgiven," the cover headline says in French.
     
    In the prophet's hands, there is a sign that says "Je suis Charlie" or "I am Charlie."
     
    From Paris to Jerusalem, Tuesday would mark a day of mourning for the victims in last week's attacks.
     
    The bodies of four hostages killed in the Jewish store siege brought to Israel Tuesday morning. All four - Philippe Braham, Yohan Cohen, Yoav Hattab and François-Michel Saada - will be buried at the Govat Shaul cemetery in Jerusalem.
     
    A Muslim policeman killed while trying to pursue the assailants from the Charlie Hebdo attack will be laid to rest Tuesday.
     
    While France is grappling with a new wave of terrorism, concerns about future attacks have spilled well across its borders.
     
    The US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is boosting security at more government buildings across the country. But the exact locations are "law-enforcement sensitive", DHS Secretary Jeh Johnson said in a statement.
     
    Johnson also noted that the Transportation Security Administration has ramped up the number of random searches of passengers and carry-on luggage at US airports.
     
    The White House tried damage control Monday after widespread criticism that neither President Barack Obama nor any other high-ranking US official joined a massive anti-terrorism march in Paris that drew 40 other world leaders.
     
    White House spokesperson Josh Earnest acknowledged "we should have sent someone with a higher profile", not even trying to justify the fact that the largely unknown US Ambassador to France, Jane Hartley, was the top American official at Sunday's rally.
     
    While the US has not faced a physical terror attack since the incidents in France, Islamic State (IS) sympathisers did hack the Twitter account of the US Central Command.
     
    A series of unusual tweets were published Monday with apparent warnings from the IS, as well as links, images and Pentagon documents that reveal contact information for members of the military.
     
    The first tweet read: "AMERICAN SOLDIERS, WE ARE COMING, WATCH YOUR BACK. IS."
     
    "CyberCaliphate" and "i love you isis" were sprawled out in white letters against a black screen at the top of the Twitter page.
     
    The account was suspended, but defence officials say no classified information was obtained and no military networks were compromised.

    MORE International ARTICLES

    Website launched for Modi's US reception

    Website launched for Modi's US reception
    The Indian American Community Foundation (IACF) has launched a website to give a community reception for Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the...

    Website launched for Modi's US reception

    Ukraine accuses Russia of invading country

    Ukraine accuses Russia of invading country
    Ukraine Friday accused Russia of invading the country after a convoy of Russian trucks carrying humanitarian aid crossed the border allegedly without permission or supervision of the Red Cross, Efe news agency reported.

    Ukraine accuses Russia of invading country

    Pakistan Senate extends support to PM Sharif

    Pakistan Senate extends support to PM Sharif
    Even as the protests against the government in Pakistan by two political parties continued, the country's Senate or upper house of parliament Friday unanimously passed a resolution rejecting the demands for the resignation of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and the dissolution of the assemblies.

    Pakistan Senate extends support to PM Sharif

    Islamabad protests our constitutional right: PTI, PAT

    Islamabad protests our constitutional right: PTI, PAT
    The anti-government protests in Pakistani capital's Constitution Avenue area are peaceful demonstrations, in accordance with the constitutional rights of citizens, Pakistan's PTI and PAT parties contended during a Supreme Court hearing Friday.

    Islamabad protests our constitutional right: PTI, PAT

    27 killed in CAR gold mine collapse

    27 killed in CAR gold mine collapse
    At least 27 miners have been killed in a gold mine collapse in the Central African Republic (CAR), authorities said Friday.

    27 killed in CAR gold mine collapse

    Austrian humanitarian aid for 100,000 people in Iraq

    Austrian humanitarian aid for 100,000 people in Iraq
    The Austrian government has approved one million euros ($1.3 million) in emergency aid from the Foreign Disaster Relief Fund (FDRF) to the UN in northern Iraq, the country's foreign ministry said in a statement.

    Austrian humanitarian aid for 100,000 people in Iraq