US streets ‘will run red with blood’

A MAN describing himself as an American member of al-Qaida warned on a video broadcast yesterday that the US will be attacked “at any moment” and “the streets will run red with blood.”

The man is hidden by a headscarf and holding a gun in the 75-minute tape, obtained by ABC News.

The CIA said the tape “appears to have been produced by al-Qaida’s media organisation” although it could not authenticate it.

The man identifies himself as “Azzam the American”, a name unfamiliar to US intelligence services.

He refers to US President George W Bush, Vice President Dick Cheney, Defence Secretary Donald Rumsfeld, Attorney General John Ashcroft and Secretary of State Colin Powell.

“My fellow countrymen you are guilty, guilty, guilty, guilty,” he said. You are as guilty as Bush and Cheney. You’re as guilty as Rumsfeld and Ashcroft and Powell.

“After decades of American tyranny and oppression, now it’s your turn to die.

“Allah willing, the streets of America will run red with blood matching drop for drop the blood of America’s victims.”

Other current and former members of the US Government are also named by the man in the tape.

ABC reported that captured members of al-Qaida would be quizzed about the identity of the man.

Intelligence officials have long suspected that there are several Americans working with al-Qaida. Among them is Adam Gadahn, a former Southern California student who is wanted by the FBI.

The man on the tape warned that September 11 was only the beginning of strikes upon America.

ABC said it obtained the tape from a source known to have Taliban and al-Qaida contacts in Pakistan.