Al-Qaida threatens to destroy European cities

A STATEMENT said to be from an al-Qaida-linked group has threatened to destroy European cities and “create waterfalls of blood” because the continent failed to respond to Osama bin Laden’s peace offer.

The statement dated Wednesday and posted on the internet in the name of Abu Hafs al-Masri Brigades condemns Europeans for not withdrawing their troops from Iraq and Afghanistan within three months, as bin Laden demanded on April 15.

“Today, we have declared a bloody war against you. We will not stop our attacks until you have come to your senses,” the statement said.

There was no way to verify the authenticity of the statement which surfaced on an Islamic website known for its extremist content. US officials and some terrorism experts believe Abu Hafs al-Masri Brigades, which claimed responsibility for the Madrid train bombings that killed about 200 people in March, has only tenuous ties to al-Qaida.

The statement singled out Italy, to whom the Abu Hafs al-Masri Brigades addressed an earlier threat this week. It added: “The cities will bleed until all of you, European leaders and people, come to your senses. Withdraw your deadly missions from Iraq.”