Bin Laden Tape Linked to Christmas Bomb Attempt
A link between the attempted Christmas Day terror bomb mid-air explosion and infamous international terrorist Osama bin Laden was forged on January 24th 2010 when a recording surfaced that, ostensibly, depicted him saying that he was responsible for it. The recording - audio-only - has already sparked concerns over the possibility of continued high-level terrorist action. Osama bin Laden - the leader of terrorist organisation al-Qaeda, is best known in connection with the September 11th Twin Towers attacks and - despite concentrated international efforts - apparently remains at large, although - according to some reports - he is no longer alive.
Bin Laden Tape Recording
Already, the US has commented on the bin Laden tape recording. In comments made to news organisation CNN, adviser to the White House, David Axelrod, said there was uncertainty over whether the recording involved bin Laden or not. "But assuming that it is him, his message contains the same hollow justifications for the mass slaughter of innocents that we've heard before", he added.
The claimed bin Laden message's release into the public domain coincided with the emergence of new information concerning the Christmas Day bombing attempt, carried out by Nigerian Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab. It now turns out that Abdulmutallab tried to convince police officials that the Northwest Airlines Airbus A330 airliner he was on contained a second explosive devices, besides the one that he was carrying in his underpants.
Christmas Day Explosion Attempt
In the message - titled 'From Osama to Obama', the Christmas Day explosion attempt was described as just one chapter of al-Qaeda's modus operandi post 9/11. "The message sent to you with the attempt by the hero, Nigerian Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab, is a confirmation of our previous message conveyed by the heroes of September 11", the recording announced. "If it was possible to carry our messages to you by words, we wouldn't have carried them to you by planes."
Based on analysis of some of the word choices and phraseology heard on the recording, one US organisation referred to it as a "possible indicator of an upcoming attack".
'This phrase "Peace be upon those who follow guidance" appears at the beginning and end of messages released in advance of attacks that are designed to provide warning to al-Qaeda's enemies that they need to change their ways or they will be attacked", IntelCenter stated - citing previous examples of this trend.
Bin Laden: Christmas Attack
However, said one US intelligence source - no evidence existed to support the idea of bin Laden's prior knowledge of, or 'involvement in the Christmas Attack'. The recording - the unidentified source said - '...suggests the al-Qaeda leader wants to appear in direct command of the terrorist group's many affiliates around the world at a time when some analysts have suggested he is mostly a figurehead.'
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