Al-Qaeda creating cartoon film to inspire kids: report

Terror group's media savvy approach,may backfire,according to analysts.

Al-Qaeda activists are making a animated cartoon film that would show “heroic acts” like “armed engagements” to inspire children to take up jihad.

Stills were published on the Arabic-language al-Shamouk jihadist website,BBC reported on Thursday quoting Qulliam,a London-based “counter extremism” think tank.

The post on the al-Shamouk website was authored by someone calling himself Abu al-Laith al-Yemen,Quilliam said.

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It quoted him as saying: “The cartoon movie al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula is a very exciting story that tells the facts about who let down the Islamic religion and the Prophet… It aims to catalyse the youth and the children to follow the steps of Islamic jihadist figures. It includes real incidents and features heroic actions by the mujahideen in the Prophet’s peninsula. These incidents include raids,armed engagements and assassinations.”

The film was an “alternative to the poison that is broadcast by other TV channels to our children and youth”,he said.

“Whether or not this movie actually appears,this shows a significant development in al-Qaeda’s attitude to the media and to recruitment,” said Noman Benotman,a former jihadist and Quilliam analyst. “They are trying out new methods to make terrorism exciting to young people and even to children,” Benotman said,adding the plan “may backfire”.