Arab group claims responsibility for Madrid attack

The Arabic newspaper Al-Quds al-Arabi said tonight it had received a claim of responsibility for the Madrid train bombings issued by The Brigade of Abu Hafs al-Masri in the name of al Qaida.

The claim received by email at the paper’s London offices said the brigade’s “death squad” had penetrated “one of the pillars of the crusade alliance, Spain”.

The claim said: “This is part of settling old accounts with Spain, the crusader, and America’s ally in its war against Islam.”

Referring to Spain’s Prime Minister Jose Maria Aznar, the statement asked: “Aznar, where is America? Who will protect you, Britain, Japan, Italy and others from us?”

The newspaper faxed the claim to the Associated Press office in Cairo.