The Arab satellite channel al-Jazeera broadcast yesterday what it said was a tape from one of Osama bin Laden’s top aides urging Muslims to attack Americans, Jews and British interests.
The message came as the US defence intelligence agency (DIA) raised its alert warning to the highest level, and Saudi Arabia announced the arrest of three men suspected of planning to hijack an aircraft for a suicide attack on Jeddah.
The three-and-a-half-minute tape, purportedly from Ayman al-Zawahiri, the Egyptian-born doctor who is often regarded as Bin Laden’s deputy, called on Muslims to emulate the September 11 hijackers.
”Consider your 19 brothers, who attacked America in Washington and New York with their planes, as an example,” the voice said.
Although the identity of the speaker was not confirmed, the voice was similar to previous recordings of Zawahiri. At times, children could be heard in the background.
”The crusaders and the Jews only understand the language of murder, bloodshed … and of the burning towers,” he said.
”Carry arms against your enemies, the Americans and Jews … Attack the missions of the United States, Britain, Australia and Norway and their interests, companies and employees.”
Although Britain and Australia supported the US in the invasion of Iraq, it was unclear why Norway was included in the hit-list.
The speaker also lashed out at Arab leaders for offering facilities to the US military.
”Here is Saudi Arabia, where planes are launched from their airports, from its lands,” he said. ”Here is Kuwait, from whose lands the heavy armies march.
”Here is Qatar, where the command of the campaign is based. Here is Bahrain: the command of the Fifth Fleet remains inside it. Here is Egypt: the marine ships pass through its canal.
”Here is Yemen: the crusader ships are provided with fuel. Here is Jordan, where the crusader troops are present, and the batteries of the Patriot missiles are erected to protect Israel.”
Zawahiri disappeared during the US-led war in Afghanistan. Some reports said he was killed, but a tape purportedly from Zawahiri surfaced last October and American officials said it seemed genuine.
It is likely that the US has known the contents of the latest tape for several days. The Qatar-based al-Jazeera station has to clear the transmission of al-Qaeda tapes with the Qatari government, which has previously made copies available to the Americans.
When a tape attributed to Bin Laden surfaced last February, the US secretary of state, Colin Powell, had access to a transcript before it was broadcast.
Meanwhile, officials in Saudi Arabia disclosed yesterday that three Moroccans, apparently with al-Qaeda connections, had been arrested at Jeddah airport on Monday.
”They were planning a suicide hijack to attack Saudi landmarks,” a Saudi security source told Reuters.
”There was confusion at passport clearance. The three were behaving suspiciously. When asked if they were travelling together, one said ‘no’ and one said ‘yes’. Then they were arrested,” the source said.
Under interrogation, the men, who were armed, allegedly told police they had been planning to hijack a plane.
The most obvious Saudi landmark for an attack would be the Kingdom Tower in Riyadh, an unusually-shaped skyscraper which is known locally as ”the bottle-opener”.
The 300-metre building is owned by Prince al-Walid bin Talal, who offered $10-million to victims of the World Trade Centre attack, only to have his cheque returned by New York’s mayor Rudolph Giuliani.
In Riyadh yesterday, more concrete barriers were erected in front of hotels as part of intensified security measures in the wake of last week’s suicide bombings that killed 34 people, including eight Americans, seven Saudis and nine of the attackers. Nearly 200 people were wounded.
Britain, Germany and Italy joined the US in closing their diplomatic offices in the kingdom for at least a few days.
As the DIA raised its warning of an attack on military facilities in the US to the highest level, extra missile systems and air patrols were deployed around Washington. The US also raised its general terror alert to the second-highest level. – Guardian Unlimited Â