AL QAEDA CLAIMS BOMBINGS

[HW Techie]

A group claiming to be acting in the name of al Qaeda says it was behind today's devastating Madrid train bombings, which killed at least 192 people.


An email to the London-based Al-Quds Al-Arabi newspaper said the Brigade of Abu Hafs al-Masri was responsible for the worst terrorist attack on a European city since the second world war.

It also warned that a "big attack" on the US was "90% ready".

"The death squad (of the Abu Hafs Al-Masri Brigades) succeeded in penetrating the crusader European depths and striking one of the pillars of the crusader alliance - Spain - with a painful blow," the email said.

"We bring the good news to Muslims of the world that the expected 'Winds of Black Death' strike against America is now in its final stage...90 percent (ready) and God willing near."

Bari Atwan, the newspaper's editor, told Sky News he was certain the claim was authentic.

Al-Masri, Osama bin Laden's right-hand man, was killed in the battle of Tora Bora during the war in Afghanistan.

The claim comes after investigators found an Arabic language tape with Koranic versus in a van carrying bomb detonators near Madrid.



The letter and the discovery of the van may throw into doubt the Spanish government's claim that the Basque separatist group Eta - rather than al Qaeda - was behind the multiple bombings, which also injured1,200 people.

"Because of this, I have just given instructions to the security forces not to rule out any line of investigation," Angel Acebes said.

But he stressed Eta was the main suspect.

Ten bombs went off this morning in a devastating wave of attacks on trains passing three different railway stations at the height of the Madrid's rush-hour.

Thousands of Spaniards held a huge silent protest in Bilbao this evening at the heart of Eta country.

The government said the bombs were probably set off by remote control at 4-5 minute intervals starting at 6.30am GMT.



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From Sky News