Al Qaeda Claims Attacks in Kenya

Al Qaeda claimed responsibility for recent attacks in Kenya that killed 16 people and vowed even more “lethal” assaults against Israel and the United States in a statement attributed to the group that appeared on a militant Web site Sunday.

“I hereby confirm what has been issued by Al Qaeda political office regarding our responsibility for the Mombasa attacks in Kenya,” leading Al Qaeda member Sulaiman abu Ghaith said in an audio statement on the site.

“The Christian-Jewish alliance will not, God willing, be safe from attacks by the moujahedeen.... The alliance’s installations and facilities everywhere will be subject to attacks,” he said. “The next phase will witness bigger and more lethal operations.”

The Web site has carried statements by Muslim militants, including Al Qaeda. The pan-Arab satellite TV station Al Jazeera broadcast parts of the statement and said the voice sounded similar to that on past Al Qaeda videotapes featuring Abu Ghaith.

In Kenya last month, a hotel bombing killed 10 Kenyans, three Israelis and three bombers and an Israeli charter jet narrowly missed being brought down by missiles.