Thursday, 24 September 2009The U.S. State Department issued a travel warning to all Americans visiting or residing in Germany on Wednesday, 23 September 2009. The warning was a response to an internet video released by al Qaeda on 18 September 2009, which stated that if this Sunday’s elections in Germany do not turn out in their favor, attacks will occur within the country.
The German government has heightened security and raised their threat level while the British Foreign Office has also warned its citizens in Germany.
CNN has reported that the man who appears in the video, Bekay Harrach, under the pseudonym of Abu Talla, stated that if this weeks elections do not result in elected parties that will pull German troops from Afghanistan, Germany will face a “rude awakening.” The speaker proceeded to warn Muslims living in Germany to stay away from public life during the first two weeks after the elections. The U.S. State Department has warned American citizens to remain cautious until October 11, due to the video’s veiled threat of a possible attack occurring in the two weeks following the election.
The speaker also criticized German Chancellor Angela Merkel and her support for the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. He extended a message to the Social Democrats, Merkel’s opposition saying that, “If the German people vote for peace, then the Mujahedeen will choose peace with Germany as well," and "With the withdrawal of the last German soldier from Afghanistan, the last Mujahed will also leave Germany. Al Qaeda gives you their word."
Prior to the videos release, Germany's interior ministry had said the country has received an increase in terrorist threats since the beginning of this year.
|
Thursday, 24 September 2009
Ayla Yetkin (JTW)
|
|
