Close X
Sunday, December 1, 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

    British PM supports Gandhi statue in London

    British Prime Minister David Cameron has offered support to the Gandhi Statue Memorial Trust's initiative to install a statue of Mahatma Gandhi at London's prestigious Parliament Square.

    British PM supports Gandhi statue in London

    Bill Cosby's Canadian Fans Believe Comedian Innocent Until Charged

    Bill Cosby's Canadian Fans Believe Comedian Innocent Until Charged
    Loud protesters, in-show hecklers and tense, tight security — Bill Cosby's Canadian fans bore it all to share a few laughs with the famous comedian amidst the barrage of sexual assault allegations that have plagued him for weeks.

    Bill Cosby's Canadian Fans Believe Comedian Innocent Until Charged

    Steven Blaney Lays Wreath At Charlie Hebdo HQ Ahead Of Sunday's Unity Rally

    Steven Blaney Lays Wreath At Charlie Hebdo HQ Ahead Of Sunday's Unity Rally
    PARIS — Public Safety Minister Steven Blaney laid a wreath Saturday at the headquarters of the satirical newspaper Charlie Hebdo, where a dozen people were killed in a terror attack this week, ahead of Sunday's unity rally and march in Paris.

    Steven Blaney Lays Wreath At Charlie Hebdo HQ Ahead Of Sunday's Unity Rally

    France Terror: President Francois Hollande Urges People To Be United, Vigilant

    France Terror: President Francois Hollande Urges People To Be United, Vigilant
    French President Francois Hollande Friday urged the people of the country to be united in the face of a spate of terror attacks and also to stay vigilant.

    France Terror: President Francois Hollande Urges People To Be United, Vigilant

    Sirisena: A Former Rebel Who Will Now Rule Sri Lanka

    Sirisena: A Former Rebel Who Will Now Rule Sri Lanka
      Maithripala Sirisena, elected to govern Sri Lanka, was once jailed for alleged links to leftwing Sinhalese rebels who almost ousted the government in 1971. He remained in prison for 15 months.

    Sirisena: A Former Rebel Who Will Now Rule Sri Lanka

    Charlie Hebdo Attack: Seven Killed As Paris Double Hostage Crisis Ends

    Charlie Hebdo Attack: Seven Killed As Paris Double Hostage Crisis Ends
    At least seven people were killed Friday, including three gunmen, after security forces brought to an end two tense hostage dramas in separate locations in the French capital.

    Charlie Hebdo Attack: Seven Killed As Paris Double Hostage Crisis Ends