WASHINGTON (AP) — A top al-Qaida leader is praising the Dec. 30 attack on a CIA outpost in Afghanistan and says it was to avenge the deaths of a Pakistani Taliban leader and two al-Qaida figures.
The claim was made in a message on jihadist Internet forums Wednesday. It adds further confusion to which group orchestrated the suicide bombing that killed seven CIA employees and a Jordanian intelligence officer and wounded six.
A Pakistani Taliban spokesman previously has identified the bomber and claimed responsibility. Terrorist watchdog groups are disagreeing over the intent of the new message — whether it was a claim of responsibility or just praising the bomber.
The Internet message is signed by al-Qaida’s No. 3, Sheikh Mustafa Abu al-Yazid.