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November 10, 2005
Jordan: Militant Islam is Responsible - Al Qaeda Claims Attacks
The explosions at the three Amman hotels yesterday, which killed 57 and wounded 300 were the work of al-Qaeda in Iraq, headed by Jordanian exile, Abu Musab al-Zarqawi (pictured). A statement was posted on the internet, claiming to come from al-Qaeda in Iraq, claimed responsibility, according to the BBC. The message read "Some hotels were chosen which the Jordanian despot had turned into a backyard for the enemies of the faith, the Jews and crusaders."
The "despot" mentioned in the statement appears to be King Abdullah II, who has recently been both praised and condemned for his calling for a form of moderate Islam to be practised. He promised that "justice will pursue the criminals". He cut short a trip to Kazakhstan, and has visited the scenes of the blasts.
The Jordanian government has called for a national day of mourning for the victims.
According to Marwan Muasher, the Deputy Prime Minister, two of the suicide attacks had been caused by individuals with explosives strapped to their bodies, and the third was caused by a car bomb.
Two senior Palestinian officials were killed in the Hyett Hotel blast. Some of the victims have been identified as westerners. One American, five Germans and a Swiss national are among the dead.
At the wedding reception in the Radisson SAS hotel, the bride and groom were injured, and the bride's father and the groom's father were killed. The groom, Ashraf al-Khaled, stated "The world has to know that this has nothing to do with Islam".
The hotels at which the explosions took place were the Radisson SAS, the Hyett and the Day's Inn.
Keywords: Al-Qaeda, Al-Qaida, al Qaeda, al Qaida
Posted by Giraldus Cambrensis at November 10, 2005 9:14 AM
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