A previously unknown group that links itself to al Qaeda has claimed responsibility for a failed attempt to kill the Palestinian intelligence chief, according to a Web statement posted on Sunday.
| Assassination Attempt |
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| Gaza infighting: Hit targets intelligence chief / Ali Waked |
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Blast at Palestinian General Intelligence headquarters in Gaza City wounds Intelligence Chief Tarek Abu Rajab, who was later taken to Israeli hospital for medical treatment; PA Chairman Abbas: Incident constitutes grave threat to PA |
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The group, called the Qaeda Organization of the State of Palestine, also vowed to target other senior officials, including Palestinian Authority Chairman Mahmoud Abbas.
"Your brothers in the Qaeda Organization of the State of Palestine were capable of reaching the workplace of ... (Tareq) Abu Rajab," said the statement, which was not posted on Web sites usually used by terror groups, including al Qaeda.
"The Mujahideen were able to plant a bomb in the elevator," it added. The statement's authenticity could not be immediately verified.
Palestinian General Intelligence Chief Tareq Abu Rajab, an ally of Abbas, was seriously wounded after an explosion in an elevator at his Gaza Strip headquarters that killed one of his bodyguards and wounded five others.
'Support for al-Zarqawi'
He was evacuated to the Sourasky Medical Center in Tel Aviv by a Magen David Adom rescue team, and is suffering from wounds all over his body, particularly in the limbs, stomach and chest, and is being anesthetized and ventilated.
The statement said Abu Rajab survived because the terrorists detonated the explosives before the elevator door had closed.
The group also vowed to target Abbas and Mohammed Dahlan, a former security chief. Both men are senior figures in the Fatah group which was in government until the landslide victory of Islamist terror group Hamas in January general elections.
The group also expressed its support for al-Qaeda leader in Iraq Abu Musab al-Zarqawi.
Tensions between Hamas and Fatah have mounted since the terror organization won the poll and flared after Hamas formed a new 3,000-member security force last month to counter officers loyal to Abbas.
Israeli officials have warned of al Qaeda agents infiltrating Gaza, which it quit last year. Previous such Israeli claims have been rejected by the Palestinians.
Roee Nahmias contributed to the report
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