New Qaeda video surfaces ahead of German vote
The third German-language video in a week by an al-Qaeda militant has surfaced in what the German government said Friday marked an "abstract threat" against the country.
The video, entitled "O Allah I Love You 2" and posted Thursday, was the latest by al-Qaeda operative Abu Talha al-Almani, or "The German" and came days after he threatened attacks in Germany over its military mission in Afghanistan.
In it, Abu Talha calls for devout Muslims to join in a holy war.
"Jihad is a project that must be realised," he says in German.
"My own success is not a condition for taking part in jihad. I can achieve my goal, but I may also end up in Guantanamo. I must be willing to accept whatever comes, in Allah's name.
"To the unbelievers I say: I have had enough patience."
US monitoring group IntelCentre, which released the videos, said the "threat of attack by al-Qaeda or its affiliates in Germany or against German interests worldwide (is) at a significantly high level based on assessment of Abu Talha's latest statement when taken in the context of his two other statements."
The "threat will be high for the lead-up to elections on September 27 and remain so following the elections," it said.
A German interior ministry spokesman said the latest video contained "no new direct threats against Germany" but spoke of an "abstract threat" and said authorities were still examining its content.
"We already adjusted security measures appropriately at the national level and in the states last week when the first video appeared," the spokesman told a regular government news conference. "The authorities are extremely vigilant."
Police with machine guns were patrolling airports and train stations across the country this week, while armoured vehicles were visible on runways including at Frankfurt airport, one of Europe's busiest.
Last week Abu Talha warned Germany to change its government in the election and withdraw its 4,200 troops from Afghanistan or face being attacked at home.
Abu Talha, who German security forces believe to be a 32-year-old from Bonn named Bekkay Harrach, said last week that if Angela Merkel is re-elected as chancellor in Sunday's polls, "bitter times await the Germans."
Bekkay, believed to be of Moroccan origin, called on Muslim youth in Germany to enable al-Qaeda to carry out the first attacks there in case jihad is declared.
Germany has never suffered an attack by Islamist militants, but a number of plots have been uncovered and there has been a string of other Internet warnings.
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