Pakistani Taliban Chief Warns Of More Attacks On American Soil Post NY Times Square Bomb Scare
The leader of the main Pakistani Taliban group, Hakimullah Mehsud has issued video tapes warning the US of multiple attacks on its citizens.
Notably, Mehsud was reported dead in a January drone attack in Pakistan. The tapes containing voice purportedly belonging to Mehsud, emerged just a day after another Pakistani Taliban group led by Qari Hussein Mehsud claimed that their people were involved in a failed car bombing in New York's Times Square.
The video was released by SITE, a US-based group monitoring Taliban media, but it made reference to the attack in New York City.
Earlier, US authorities investigating the failed attack had dismissed the claim of responsibility made by Qari Hussein Mehsud's gropup. Pakistani Taliban sources also said to Al Jazeera said they were not behind the Times Square bombing plan.
Meanwhile, IntelCenter, another monitoring agency has released a second video, in which a man appearing to be Mehsud promises that "God willing, very soon in some days or a month's time, the Muslim [community] will see the fruits of most successful attacks of our fedayeen in USA".
Al Jazeera's Kamal Hyder, who is based in Pakistan said the threat issued by Mehsud could create problems in the US as well as in Pakistan. "Will they [the US] increase the number of drone strikes into Pakistan now that Hakimullah has issued a threat? The claim that there will be suicide attacks in mainland USA is not something the Americans will take lightly. They will, of course, update security operations," said Hyder.
In 2009, Hakimullah Mehsud's predecessor Baitullah Mehsud had claimed responsibility for a mass shooting at the American Civic Association in Binghamton, but US authorities found out that Baitullah's claim was false.
On his part, New York mayor Michael Bloomberg yesterday said that there was no evidence that Al-Qaeda was involved in the failed bombing.
