A new message attributed to al-Qaida leader Osama bin Laden claims responsibility for sending the failed airplane bomber to the United States last month. The message says attacks will continue as long as the U.S. supports Israel.
In an audio message broadcast Sunday on the al-Jazeera Arab television network, a man purported to be Osama bin Laden said America will not live in security unless there is security for Palestinians.
The authenticity of the tape could not be immediately verified, but the voice resembled earlier recordings of the al-Qaida leader.
In what he called a message "from Osama to Obama", a reference to U.S. President Barack Obama, bin Laden referred to the failed Christmas day bombing attempt in the United States.
He said sending Umar Farouk Abulmutallab, the Nigerian man charged with the attempt, confirms a previous message sent by the September 11th 2001 attackers.
The message added that if the United States could understand the words of al-Qaida, it would not need to send planes.
There was no immediate U.S. response.
The Yemen-based al-Qaida in the Arabian Peninsula has already taken responsibility for Abdulmutallab's actions.
The Nigerian suspect had traveled to Yemen prior to his alleged attempt to bring down the passenger plane.
The United States and others have expressed concern that the local affiliate of the terror network may be gaining strength as members of the main group are forced out of Afghanistan and Pakistan.
The message says attacks will continue as long as the U.S. supports Israel
