New group claims responsibility for UN attack
An unheard of Iraqi Islamist group has claimed responsibility for the attack on the UN headquarters in Baghdad, Al Arabiya, an Emirates-based television channel, said on Thursday.
In a statement, the group calling itself the “Armed Vanguards of the Second Mohammed Army” (AVSMA), said an operative exploded the truck bomb which killed 24 and left over 100 injured.
The victims included the UN’s senior envoy in Iraq, Sergio Vieira de Mello.
The statement pledged to launch “similar attacks” on “all foreigners.”
It read: “We say it proudly that we did not hesitate for one moment to kill Crusader blood.”
AVSMA warned neighbouring countries against supporting the US-led occupation of Iraq and urged other acts of jihad “against all those who help the Americans, even if they are Arab or Muslim,” Al Arabiya reported.
Guerrilla attacks have killed 63 US soldiers since the start of May.
