Pakistan’s Taliban, a close ally of al Qaeda, has threatened to carry out a series of attacks against American, British and French targets to avenge the death of Osama bin Laden.
“Soon you will see attacks against America and NATO countries, and our first priorities in Europe will be France and Britain,” deputy Pakistani Taliban leader Wali-ur-Rehman said in a videotape aired on Al Arabiya over the weekend.
The Tehreek-e-Taliban (TTP), or Taliban Movement of Pakistan, is blamed for many of the suicide bombings across the country and remains highly dangerous despite a series of army offensives against its strongholds in the northwest on the Afghan border.
It has not demonstrated an ability to stage sophisticated attacks in the West, however.
The TTP’s one apparent bid to inflict carnage in the US failed. The group claimed responsibility for the botched car bomb attack in New York’s Times Square last year.
But American intelligence agencies take it seriously. It was later added to the U.S. list of foreign terrorist organisations.
“We selected 10 targets to avenge the death of bin Laden,” said Rehman, a former teacher who the Pakistani media have described as more sober and experienced than other TTP leaders.
{{/usCountry}}“We selected 10 targets to avenge the death of bin Laden,” said Rehman, a former teacher who the Pakistani media have described as more sober and experienced than other TTP leaders.
{{/usCountry}}Rehman, also seen firing a machinegun into the distance in the video, did not elaborate.