Counterterrorism Blog

Zarqawi's Al-Qaida Faction Offers More Details Behind Amman Suicide Blasts

By Evan Kohlmann

Al-Qaida's Committee in Iraq--led by Abu Musab al-Zarqawi--has issued a third communique claiming responsibility for Thursday's suicide bombing attacks at three Western hotels in the Jordanian capital Amman.  In its latest message, Al-Qaida identified the four bombers as all Iraqi nationals: terror cell commander Abu Khabib al-Iraqi (responsible for the attack on the Radisson Hotel), Abu Muaz al-Iraqi (responsible for the attack on the Hyatt Hotel), Abu Omaira al-Iraqi, and his wife Umm Omaira (jointly responsible for the attack on the Days Inn).  The statement indicated that suicide vest bombs were chosen over traditional vehicle-borne explosive devices in order to "more precisely strike" the selected targets.  Al-Qaida also renewed its threat to strike directly at neighboring Israel: "�Let the Jews realize that their wall that was built to the east of the Jordan river� is now a target for the lions of al-Tawheed and soon they [the Jews] will be reached by the mujahideen."

Click to view English translation c/o Globalterroralert.com