Al Qaeda vows harder, faster strikes

Al Qaeda has threatened faster, harder strikes against the United States and Israel ‘‘on land, air and sea’’ in a new st...

Al Qaeda has threatened faster, harder strikes against the United States and Israel ‘‘on land, air and sea’’ in a new statement attributed to the main September 11 suspect that was posted on a militant website today.

‘‘The jewish crusader coalition will not be safe anywhere from the fighters’ attacks,’’ the statement said, using a term common among Islamic militants for what they see as a US-Israeli alliance. ‘‘We will hit the most vital centers and we will strike against its strategic operations with all possible means.’’

The statement was attributed to Al Qaeda spokesman Sulaiman Abu Ghaith. The web site, which has posted previous statements attributed to the terror network, included what appeared to be an old newspaper photograph of Abu Ghaith with the statement posted today. The whereabouts of Abu Ghaith, along with Al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden, have been a mystery since the network was chased out of its Afghan haven by US bombing following the September 11 attacks.

‘‘We will chase the enemy with terrifying weapons,’’ today’s statement said. ‘‘We have to widen our fighting fronts and conduct more concentrated and faster operations … So (the enemy) feels unsafe and unstable on land, air and sea.’’

The statement attributed to Abu Ghaith also said a purported Al Qaeda claim of responsibility for the November 28 attacks on Israelis in Kenya was genuine. That claim was posted on several other Islamic sites last week.

Today’s statement noted that Al Qaeda does not usually claim responsibility for attacks, but would do so ‘‘according to the relevant circumstances.’’

Meanwhile, Israel has received intelligence information warning of plans by Osama bin Laden’s Al Qaeda network to attack Jews and Israelis in Prague, an Israeli security source said on Sunday.

Story continues below this ad

Israel named Al Qaeda as the prime suspect in a suicide bombing at a hotel in Kenya on November 28 that killed 13 Kenyans and three Israelis and a failed attempt to shoot down with missiles an Israeli airliner taking off nearby.

‘‘A specific warning was received recently about plans to attack Jews and Israelis in Prague,’’ the security source said, without giving details.

The capital of the Czech Republic is a popular travel destination for Israelis. The source said Israel has received information from several foreign intelligence agencies warning of Al Qaeda plans to target Israelis overseas.