This statement from the Abu Hafs al-Masri Brigades, which claimed responsibility for the Madrid bombings, looks pretty fishy to me.
In a statement sent to the Arabic language daily al-Hayat, the Abu Hafs al-Masri Brigades, which claimed responsibility for the Madrid bombings that killed 201 people, also urged its European units to stop all operations.
“Because of this decision, the leadership has decided to stop all operations within the Spanish territories… until we know the intentions of the new government that has promised to withdraw Spanish troops from Iraq,” the statement said.
“And we repeat this to all the brigades present in European lands: Stop all operations.”
Skepticism has greeted previous claims of responsibility by the group for attacks in Turkey and Iraq. U.S. officials say its links with Osama bin Laden’s al Qaeda network are unclear.
The impression of someone, very possibly supporters of the terrorists, playing games is enhanced by this further point:
The statement said it supported President Bush in his reelection campaign, and would prefer him to win in November rather than the Democratic candidate John Kerry, as it was not possible to find a leader “more foolish than you (Bush), who deals with matters by force rather than with wisdom.”
In comments addressed to Bush, the group said:
“Kerry will kill our nation while it sleeps because he and the Democrats have the cunning to embellish blasphemy and present it to the Arab and Muslim nation as civilization.”
“Because of this we desire you (Bush) to be elected.”
