Date: 8/4/2005
THURSDAY 4 AUGUST 22:30 BST - BBC TWO FROM KIRSTY WARK /// Hello, To Newsnight viewers here and abroad: /// Four weeks, and two weeks, on from the terrorist bombs in London, there's reckoned to be 6,000 police officers on the streets and heavy surveillance. So far all is calm, but in a broadcast either perfectly timed or coincidental, Al Qaeda's deputy leader, Ayman al -Zawahri, has threatened more destruction in London. /// Speaking on the pan-Arab satellite station Al-Jazeera, Osama Bin Laden's second in command blamed Tony Blair for the July 7th bombings, and threatened the US with tens of thousands of military dead, if it does not withdraw it's troops from Iraq. /// Al-Zawahri was speaking with a Kalashnikov propped up by his side and appealed to the nations of what he called "the crusader alliance," saying, "we have offered you a truce if you leave the land of Islam." With that repeat of Bin Laden's talk of a truce - would it be possible, or ever acceptable to negotiate with Al Qaeda - and how much is Al Qaeda really in control of the extremists anyway? /// Alex T here with what's hot in the C4 newsroom.... /// Quids in after taking a punt =========================== /// So what would you do with £77m? Dolores McNamara ain't dolorous. Mind you, she's not saying anything, or answering any questions and is flanked by suits saying things like she need "closure". It's unlikely her silence is because she has sold her story. /// The poor woman's won, of course, £77m on the lottery. I wonder whether that amount of money could or would destabilise the winner? A lottery spokesman said she has considerable support from her friends. With that amount of money to her name, is it any wonder? /// An al-Qaeda warning ================== /// Ayman al-Zawahri, one of the most senior figures in the al-Qaeda ' movement ' and described as Osama bin Laden's lieutenant, has warned Britain and US to expect more attacks unless they get their troops out of Iraq and all other Moslem countries. We have heard such warnings before, and one curious note is the reminder it serves that on this point, British intelligence services do draw such a link between US/British foreign policy and the violent attacks carried out by extreme Islamists both on military targets but also the mass murder of civilians. So do senior Tories, Ken Livingstone (who today called for British troops to be pulled out of Iraq) and the Foreign Secretary who has said that the UK is part of the security problem in Iraq. It's just the defiant Tony Blair is one of the few who doesn't. /// The police however, have difficulties nearer home with yet another leak of major information about the London bombings from the USA. This comes from a briefing in New York to security and business figures - and casts light on the nature of the bombs and their manner of detonation. However, the police here say it's not helpful for US officers to say that the July 7 explosive was home-made. So tonight: what more do we now know? And how come the Americans keep telling their public more than our own police tell us? /// Iran exclusive ================== /// Tune in for our exclusive. A key Iranian dissident is driving himself towards death on a hunger strike over the oppression of the political opposition in Tehran. His family speak about what's happening. Lindsey Hilsum will have that one. /// Metropolitan Police response to terrorist attack in London The response to the terrorist attack which hit London on 07 July 2005 is being led by the Metropolitan Police. News items, links to other relevant web sites and important telephone numbers are listed here. This homepage will be updated regularly with the latest news and resources./// Latest News Resources Contacts • Police investigation continues into the 7/7 bombings (16/07/05) • 'One week anniversary' bombings appeal (14/07/05 - 09:00) • Press conference 5pm, July 12 (12/07/05 - 18:00) • Family assistance centre relocating (12/07/05 - 14.45) • Search warrants issued under the Terrorism Act 2000 (12/07/05 - 12:00) • News Archive - for past news stories • London Bombings Relief - Charitable Fund • Greater London Authority - For more news and resources • Transport for London - 020 7222 1234 • The Anti-Terrorist Hotline. Call in confidence - 0800 789 321 • Casualty Bureau - 0870 1566 344 or 020 7158 0010 • If you are calling from outside the UK the number you should dial is +44 20 7158 0010 • We now additionally have a typetalk number for people with hearing difficulties who are concerned about friends or relatives: 18001 0870 1566344. • In case of emergency or threat to life - 999 /// Al Qaida Threatens More London Attacks /// Terror Warning: Al Qaida's Ayman al-Zawahri speaks with a Kalashnikov rifle behind him /// -- First London bomb suspect charged -- Bomb victims' £11,000 compensation -- Hate crimes soar since bombings -- AOL News: Attack on London /// Al Qaida has threatened more terror attacks in London, in a video issued by Osama bin Laden's second-in-command. Ayman al-Zawahri blamed Prime Minister Tony Blair for the July 7 bomb outrages and the failed attacks of July 21, because of Britain's involvement in the war in Iraq. And he warned the US that it faced "tens of thousands of dead'' if it did not withdraw its troops from Iraq. In a video broadcast on Arab satellite TV channel al-Jazeera, the Egyptian-born terror chief said: "Blair has brought to you destruction in central London, and he will bring more of that, God willing.'' /// More on the London Bombings /// • AOL News Special: Attack on London • Bombs 'Never Meant to Kill' • How Was Suspect Able to Flee Abroad? • Met Chief in New Bombs Warning • Witness Describes London Raid • London Bombers Had 16 More Devices • 'Bombings Mastermind' Held in Zambia • Clarke Urged to Act Over 'Shoot-to-Kill' • War of Words Over Taser Use • Mayor Blames Foreign Policy for Attacks • CCTV: Bombers on Way to Deadly Attack • Bomber 'Not Considered a Threat By MI5' • Muslim Leaders Condemn Bombers • Thousands Attend Vigil /// Speaking before a plain background, with a Kalashnikov rifle propped up behind him, al-Zawahri described terror attacks in countries including Britain as "volcanoes of wrath'' in revenge for blood spilt in Arab countries. /// "As to the nations of the crusader alliance, we have offered you a truce if you leave the land of Islam,'' he said. /// "Hasn't Sheikh Osama bin Laden told you that you will not dream of security before there is security in Palestine and before all the infidel armies withdraw from the land of Muhammad? /// "Instead, you spilled blood like rivers in our countries and we exploded the volcanoes of wrath in your countries. /// "Our message is clear: you will not be safe until you withdraw from our land, stop stealing our oil and wealth and stop supporting the corrupt rulers.'' /// Downing Street declined to comment on the new video, and there was no immediate response from the Foreign Office. But Labour MP Peter Kilfoyle, one of the fiercest Commons opponents of the decision to go to war in Iraq, said that al-Zawahri was wrong if it thought Britain would buckle to threats. /// Talk About It /// AOL News has set up a dedicated chat room and message boards to discuss recent events in London: /// Your Messages -- Send condolences -- Terrorist attack Chat Room -- News Debate Chat /// "Obviously, al Qaida misunderstand how things are done here, because certainly the idea that the British people would accede to threats of this sort is very wide of the mark,'' he told the Press Association./// "My own view has remained undiminished that the war was the wrong thing to do, and I am not ashamed of that view, but nor do I accept that a murderous groups like al Qaida are in any position to make threats against this country of any sort.'' /// Terrorism expert Paul Rogers, the professor of peace studies at Bradford University, cautioned that the video did not prove that al Qaida was behind the London bombings. /// "It doesn't mean that they are directly involved,'' he said. "We can't say whether they are or not, but this doesn't confirm that they are. /// "They are very sophisticated at jumping on bandwagons, even at the top of the movement.'' /// Prof Rogers said that the video would be unhelpful to Mr Blair, who has sought to play down any link between British military involvement in Iraq and the London bombs. /// "It is commonly recognised by security analysts that Iraq has been an absolute gift to al Qaida,'' he said. /// "The paradox is that somebody like al-Zawahri says the conflict will go on as long as the Americans are present in Iraq, but al Qaida would like the conflict to go on in Iraq as long as possible. /// "This video statement is trying to make political capital out of what has happened, but it is quite effective because it does connect Iraq with the war on terror, which may be helpful for (US President) George Bush, who has made the same link himself, but is not so helpful for Blair.'' /// On the video, al-Zawahri predicted American losses in Iraq will outstrip those in Vietnam if the US does not withdraw. /// "As for you, the Americans, what you have seen in New York and Washington, what losses that you see in Afghanistan and Iraq, despite the media blackout, is merely the losses of the initial clashes,'' he said. /// "If you go on with the same policy of aggression against Muslims, you will see, with God's will, what will make you forget the horrible things in Vietnam and Afghanistan.'' /// He added: "The truth that has been kept from you by Bush, (Secretary of State Condoleezza) Rice and (Defence Secretary Donald) Rumsfeld is that there is no way out of Iraq without immediate withdrawal, and any delay on this means only more dead, more losses. /// "If you don't leave today, certainly you will leave tomorrow, and after tens of thousands of dead, and double that figure in disabled and wounded.'' /// The message was the first video featuring al-Zawahri to emerge since June 17, when he attacked US proposals for democratic reform in the Middle East. /// ...............................000000000
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