'Kill them in their bedrooms': Islamic State calls for attacks in US, Canada and Europe
PUBLISHED : Monday, 22 September, 2014, 4:01pm
UPDATED : Tuesday, 23 September, 2014, 4:49am
James Griffiths [email protected]
Image posted on a militant website shows Islamic State fighters in Raqqa, Syria, where the extremist group trains recruits. Photo: AP
An Islamic State spokesman has called on Muslims around the world to rise up and kill civilians in countries that belong to the US-led coalition against the militant group.
“If you can kill a disbelieving American or European – especially the spiteful and filthy French – or an Australian, or a Canadian, or any other disbeliever […] including the citizens of the countries that entered into a coalition against the Islamic State, then rely upon Allah, and kill him in any manner or way however it may be,” Islamic State spokesman Abu Muhammed al-Adnani said in a 42-minute speech posted on Twitter on Sunday.
“Kill the disbeliever whether he is civilian or military, for they have the same ruling,” he said. “Both of them are disbelievers. Both of them are considered to be waging war. Both of their blood and wealth is legal for you to destroy.”
French fighter jets over Iraq. France began bombing Islamic State positions in the country last week. Photo: AP
French planes carried out air strikes on Islamic State targets in Iraq on Friday, destroying a logistics centre in the northeast of the country. France is one of the first countries aside from the US to have carried out air-strikes against the group, also known as ISIS.
“As one of our oldest and closest allies, France is a strong partner in our efforts against terrorism and we are pleased that French and American service members will once again work together on behalf of our shared security and our shared values,” US President Barack Obama said last week.
The militant group, which has proven adept at using social media – including the spreading of gruesome execution videos of British and American captives, has stepped up its propaganda campaign since Obama announced his intentions to degrade and destroy the militant group with the support of a “broad coalition” of both Western and Middle Eastern countries.
“You will not feel secure even in your bedrooms,” Adnani said. “You will pay the price when this crusade of yours collapses, and thereafter we will strike you in your homeland, and you will never be able to harm anyone afterwards.”
The threat to strike in the West will be seen as a vindication of sorts for politicians in the UK and Canada who have called for stringent measures to be taken against citizens of their countries who travel abroad to fight alongside the jihadists. British Prime Minister David Cameron called earlier this month for police to be able to seize the passports of suspected militants, while Canada’s National Post newspaper revealed on Saturday that the government there had begun revoking the passports of Canadians who had left to join the group.
Adnani singled out US Secretary of State John Kerry, who met with Iranian foreign minister Mohammad Javad Zarif on Sunday to discuss the threat posed by the militant group, calling the former presidential candidate an “uncircumcised old geezer” after he claimed Islamic State was distorting the teachings of Islam.
British Prime Minister David Cameron (R) makes a statement to NATO leaders on the ISIS terror threat alongside US President Barak Obama (L) during a summit in Newport, Wales. Photo: EPA
