Pakistani Taliban claims responsibility for Times Square car bomb, sort of
I’m posting the below
story from Fox News, but it is all very indefinite. It seems to me that the car bomb was too amateurish to be the work of a serious Muslim jihadist organization. Also, according to the Reuters report on which Fox is drawing, the Taliban tape does not mention the car bomb in New York.
Pakistani Taliban Claims Responsibility, Reports Claim
Times Square Bomb Plot Revenge, Group Says
Updated: Sunday, 02 May 2010, 5:35 PM EDT
Published : Sunday, 02 May 2010, 2:32 PM EDT
MYFOXNY.COM—New York City’s police commissioner says there’s no evidence of a Taliban link to a failed bomb found in an SUV parked in Times Square but said he couldn’t rule them out.
Fox 5 learned of a Reuters report Sunday that the Pakistani Taliban has claimed responsibility for the bomb plot.
According to Fox News, in a one minute video allegedly released by the Pakistani Taliban, the group says the attack is revenge for the death of its leader Baitullah Mehsud and the recent killings of the top leaders of al-Qaida in Iraq.
Images of the slain militants are shown as an unidentified voice recites the message. English subtitles are at the bottom of the screen.
According to the AP, an unidentified speaker on the tape also says the attack comes in response to American “interference and terrorism in Muslim Countries, especially in Pakistan.”
The claim could not be immediately confirmed and the tape makes no specific reference to the attack nor does it mention that it was a car bomb or that it took place in New York City. [Emphasis added.]
A text in gold letters on a black background at the start of the video congratulates Muslims for the “jaw-breaking blow to Satan’s USA.” As the speaker recites the message, images of the slain militants referred to flash across the screen. English subtitles are provided at the bottom of the screen.
The video was uncovered Sunday by SITE, which monitors militant websites and has been accurate with such militant claims in the past.
The Pakistani Taliban is one of Pakistan’s largest and deadliest militant groups. It has strong links to al-Qaida and is based in the northwest close to the Afghan border. The group has carried out scores of bloody attacks inside Pakistan in recent years, mostly against Pakistani targets, but it has made no secret of its hatred toward the United States.
The investigation into the Times Square bomb plot is ongoing. Mayor Bloomberg called the improvised device “amateurish”.
According to the New York Times, a 911 call on Sunday morning warned that the bomb plot was merely a diversion for a much bigger explosion that is set to happen at Times Square.
More information on these developments throughout Sunday. The FBI released the following statement:
The FBI Joint Terrorism Task Force in New York, along with the NYPD, has responded to Times Square in response to the vehicle and device. Bomb technicians, Evidence Response Team members, and investigators are on scene and a command post has been established. All of the resources of the New York FBI office are available to assist with this ongoing investigation. Numerous initial reports will be checked and authenticated and the appropriate leads will be set.
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Daniel S. writes:
There are indications that the failed car bomb in New York City may have been targeting Comedy Central over the airing of the South Park television episode depicting the Islamic founder Muhammad.
On a side note, the Telegraph article refers to Muhammad as “the Prophet”. Would they dare refer to Jesus Christ as “our Lord and Savior”?
LA replies:
That’s too distinguish him from the Halal Vendor Muhammad, the Shoe Salesman Muhammad, the Islamic Civil Rights Spokesman Muhammad, the Defense Department Anti-terrorism Specialist Muhammad …
Posted by Lawrence Auster at May 02, 2010 05:59 PM | Send