Bin Laden Is Reportedly on Tape

The Arab satellite station Al Jazeera broadcast an audiotape Sunday in which a male voice attributed to Osama bin Laden says the “youths of God” are planning more attacks against the United States.

“By God, the youths of God are preparing for you things that would fill your hearts with terror and target your economic lifeline until you stop your oppression and aggression” against Muslims, the voice on the tape says.

It wasn’t immediately clear when the tape was made. The short message was broadcast with a picture of Bin Laden in the background.

In Washington, a White House official said: “We’re aware of the tape and its contents. We will be reviewing it.”

The man on the tape says his message is addressed to the American people, whom he urges to “understand the message of the New York and Washington attacks which came in response to some of your previous crimes.”

“But those who follow the activities of the band of criminals in the White House, the Jewish agents, who are preparing for an attack on the Muslim world ... feel that you have not understood anything from the message of the two attacks,” he says.

“So let America increase the pace of this conflict or decrease it, and we will respond in kind,” he says. The reference appeared to be to the U.S.-Iraq confrontation, which could date the tape to recent weeks.

Al Jazeera has become known for its broadcasts of audiotapes and video footage of Al Qaeda leaders.