Security forces examine new Bin Laden video

Counter-terrorism officials in the US were analysiing a new video of Osama bin Laden tonight ahead of the sixth anniversary of the September 11 terror attacks.

Several intelligence agencies were looking at the video, which features the first new images of the al-Qaida leader in nearly three years, a counter-terrorism official said.

No details or conclusions about its message were available.

Earlier, White House officials said any new video released by the terror mastermind would only serve to highlight the threats faced by the West today.

But the Department of Homeland Security said it had no credible information warning of an imminent threat to the United States.

Tom Casey, deputy State Department spokesman, said: “I don’t think that anything he is likely to say or do is going to change our resolve or the resolve of our international partners to confront extremism.”

Last night, the Site Intelligence Group said an internet announcement included a photo of Bin Laden from the upcoming video and showed his beard, which in previous messages has been streaked with grey, was black.

The Intelcenter, which also monitors Islamic websites, said the video was expected within the next 72 hours.

The Al Qaida leader last appeared in a video in October 2004, shortly before the US presidential elections.

A banner advertisement for the forthcoming video, written in Arabic, read: “Soon, God willing, a videotape from the lion sheikh Osama bin Laden, God preserve him.”

It was signed by Al-Sahab, al-Qaida’s media arm, which usually puts out such announcements one to three days before the video is posted on the internet.

With the silence from bin Laden over the past year, the organisation’s number two, Egyptian-born Ayman al-Zawahri, has been regularly issuing videos and audiotapes.

Last year, al-Zawahri called on Muslims to attack the US for jailing militant cleric Sheikh Omar Abdel Rahman.

Site director Rita Katz said bin Laden’s beard appeared to have been dyed, a popular practice among Arab leaders.

“I think it works for their benefit that he looks young, he looks healthy,” Ms Katz said.