The al-Qaida terrorist movement has recently threatened Dutch politician Geert Wilders. Which meldt dagblad The World. The French newspaper has a statement in the hands of the so-called Yemeni branch of al-Qaeda, AQAP.
The statement was partially released on Friday. Then it became known that the terror organization was threatening the French weekly Charlie Hebdo. Le Monde now has the complete and Arabic statement, which has five pages. “There is an appeal to carry out attacks on Charlie Hebdo, on the Dutch MP Geert Wilders and on Danish and Swedish cartoonists,” writes the French newspaper.
Al-Qaida literally refers to “the Dutch criminal named Geert Wilders”, one of the journalists from Le Monde told the NOS. The name of the politician is not further mentioned in the statement.
Attackers
The Yemeni branch of al-Qaeda is blamed for the attack on Charlie Hebdo in January 2015, following the publication of controversial Mohammed cartoons by the French satirical weekly. Eleven people were killed by the Kouachi brothers at the newsroom of the newspaper.
In Paris, the lawsuit around that attack is ongoing until the beginning of November. At the end of this month, a leading figure of AQAP is heard there, Peter Cherif, who often becomes mentioned as inspirator or principal of the assessment. There is no official charge against him for the act of terrorism.
‘Call can inspire’
Among specialists, the current power and influence of the al-Qaeda branch that now threatens Charlie Hebdo, Geert Wilders and Scandinavian cartoonists is alternately viewed. Since 2015, AQAP has weakened considerably, but the threat has not disappeared.
French intelligence services do not consider it likely that an attack such as on Charlie Hebdo, which recently revived the controversial cartoons, well-organized from abroad is back on track. They are, however, afraid that recent calls such as those of al-Qaeda may ‘inspire’ people to carry out an attack in Western countries.
“You have to take these threats seriously,” said journalist and terror specialist Wassim Nasr on French radio. “When you read their statement, you notice that they are following current events, that they are aware of political and social details. The organization still exists, despite the death of bin Laden and the competition from IS. “
Wilders’ response
“Terrible news”, Geert Wilders says in a response. “I was already on their hit list, already have two fatwas from Pakistan and now another murder call from al-Qaeda. Disgusting. This has cost me my freedom for 16 years, something that I do not want my worst enemy to be.”
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