AQIM Claims Bomb Attacks on French Contractors in Algeria

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Last Updated (Monday, 29 November 1999 19:00) Written by Evan Kohlmann Monday, 16 June 2008 19:00

The NEFA Foundation has obtained and translated a new communiqué from Al-Qaida’s Committee in the Islamic Maghreb claiming responsibility for several recent terrorist attacks in Algeria, including a June 8 bombing near the Beni Amrane train station which killed a French contractor working for the Razel corporation. According to the statement, “following much preparation and careful observation, the mujahideen decided to target the French delegation, despite the heavy security blanket provided by their apostate servants.” The AQIM also claimed responsibility for another recent operation of note – a twin suicide bombing attack on June 4 targeting an Algerian army outpost in Burj Kaifan. In the statement, the group explained, “After following up, making preparations, and observing it over the space of four months, the mujahideen discovered two vulnerabilities. First, the overcrowding of its main gate at closing time each Wednesday evening as the men were inspected upon leaving through the gate. The second was the gathering of these apostates at a café nearby to the barracks… Consequently, the mujahideen decided to attack these two vulnerable points with a pair of martyrdom operations.” The AQIM also directed a final message to “the crusaders and their servants from among the apostates”: “we are coming, by the will of Allah, so start digging your own graves."

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