Osama bin Laden’s death could prompt another major terrorist attack similar to
the 7/7 bombings in London after the al-Qaeda leader was shot dead by US
forces, according to Islamic extremists.
12:49PM BST 02 May 2011
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While his role in planning and coordinating al-Qaeda activity had lessened in
the past decade as the group spread across the world, bin Laden remained an
inspirational figurehead for Islamic extremists.
Anjem Choudary, the radical Muslim preacher and former UK leader of the banned
al-Muhajiroun organisation, said attacks on domestic soil, accompanied by an
escalation of fighting in Iraq and Afghanistan, could follow within days.
Bin Laden’s supporters in Britain loved him “the way they care about their own
parents”, the sharia law lecturer said.
Choudary, who acts as spokesman for the extremist Muslims Against Crusades
group, said: “I think Britain is more likely to face a 7/7 today than ever.
“Rather than dampening the spirits of those who are today engaged in jihad
physically around the world ... his death will merely act as an incentive to
prove to the world that the death of anyone will not affect them.
“Hence in the coming days and weeks we will no doubt see increased activities
from the mujahideen and more intense fighting in the battlefields of Iraq,
Afghanistan, Somalia, Chechnya.”
Afghans in the Taliban heartland of southern Afghanistan said bin Laden’s
death meant he would now be adopted as al-Qaeda’s “number one martyr”.
One man who refused to be identified, speaking in the city of Kandahar, said
the former leader would be “stronger dead than alive”.
He said: “He always predicted that he would be killed by Americans. Now he
will become a fire that Muslims will follow for generations.”
Afghan officials also said bin Laden's influence would continue and believed
the militant network would try to avenge his death.
Ahmad Wali Karzai, the brother of Afghan President Hamid Karzai, said: “His
death will bring about positive changes for the moment but for the future,
it will intensify fighting in Afghanistan because al Qaeda will seek
revenge.”
