Key al-Qaeda operative arrested in Karachi

Pakistan’s intelligence agencies have arrested two terrorists, including a US-national, who for many years acted as a spokesman for Osama Bin Laden and the Al-Qaeda, in the city.

Well-placed sources in the government and the police said US national Abu Yayha Azam, who is also known as Adam Gadahn, along with another terrorist was arrested two days ago from a house located close to Sohrab Goth on the Super highway, confirming fears that the Taliban and al—Qaeda are using the city as a safe base.

The two have now been shifted to an undisclosed location for further interrogation, the sources said.

According to the sources, key catch Azam acted as a spokesman for Laden and the al-Qaeda for many years.

Azam was wanted by the FBI since 2004 and two years later he was charged with treason. There was a USD 1 million reward for information leading to his arrest or conviction.

“He (Azam) is a key al-Qaeda operative who encouraged militants to wage terrorism against the US and other western countries with his messages on the internet,” a source said.

The most recent of his posting was praising of a US Army major who was charged with killing 13 people in Texas.

This is the second time in recent weeks that Pakistan’s intelligence agencies have made such arrests here.

Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar, the Taliban’s No 2 leader and top military commander, besides Mullah Abdul Kabir, the top Taliban commander in eastern Afghanistan, were earlier arrested here.

Bin Laden takes credit for Christmas Day attempt

Al-Qaeda leader Osama Bin Laden issued a new audio message claiming responsibility for the Christmas day bombing attempt in Detroit and vowed further attacks.

In a recording carried by the Al-Jazeera Arabic news channel, Bin Laden addressed U.S. President Barak Obama saying the attack was a message like that of September 11 and more attacks against the U.S. would be forthcoming.

“The message delivered to you through the plane of the heroic warrior Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab was a confirmation of the previous messages sent by the heroes of the September 11,” he said.

“America will never dream of security unless we will have it in reality in Palestine,” he added. “God willing, our raids on you will continue as long as your support to the Israelis will continue.”

On Christmas Day, Nigerian national Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab attemped to blow up the Northwest Airlines flight he was sitting on as it approached Detroit Metro Airport. But the bomb he was hiding in his underwear failed to explode.

Abdulmutallab told federal agents shortly afterward that he had been trained and instructed in the plot by Al-Qaeda operatives in Yemen.

There was no way to confirm the voice was actually that of Bin Laden, but it resembled previous recordings attributed to him.