Guantanamo Inmates Will Be Freed, Al Qaeda Promises In New Tape
Guantanamo Bay inmates will be freed by Al Qaeda, a leader of the terrorist group said in a new audio address. They will “spare no effort” to free prisoners in Gitmo they say. They say it will be part of a series of attacks aiming to free militants in prisons in Iraq, Pakistan, and Libya.
USA Today reports that a top Al Qaeda official, Ayman al-Zawahri, made these promises in a recording released online this week. Authorities have not yet confirmed the recording’s authenticity.
The 22-minute audio recording says that Al Qaeda militants will “pledge to God that we will spare no effort to free all our prisoners.” Zawahri also names several people who they will target for release, including Khaled Sheikh Mohammed. Mohammed is considered to be one of the masterminds behind the September 11, 2001 terror attacks.
Zawahri also mentions the continuing hunger strikes at the US prison in Cuba this year. In the tape he says that “the strike by our brothers at Guantanamo unmasks the true ugly face of America.” Many of the 166 Gitmo inmates have refused food, prompting prison staff to controversially feed protesters by force.
The hunger strikes are protesting the conditions in Guantanamo Bay. Hunger strikers are also protesting the fact that some inmates have been held in solitary confinement for years without trial.
The statement did not say how Al Qaeda planned to free the Gitmo inmates. RT points out that in the past, the militant group has tried to kidnap Western hostages to get exchanges.
The tape suggests that the terrorist group may have more ambitious plans. Zawahri implies that Gitmo may be next in the group’s campaign to free militants imprisoned in various countries.
Last week Al Qaeda claimed responsibility for attacks that freed 500 inmates from two prisons in Iraq. Whether Zawahri’s threats about Guantanamo are based in reality or not, it is clear the recent successful prison breaks have emboldened the Al Qaeda leader.
[Image via The U.S. Army via photopin cc]
