Hours later, Al Qaida issued a new ultimatum for the release of the
Austrians. AQIM demanded the release of two Islamists detained in Austria
and the withdrawal of Austrian troops from Afghanistan.
"Al Qaida is continuing and will continue to dominate international
terrorism and its leader, Osama Bin Laden, will remain very active as long
as he has sanctuary in Afghanistan and Pakistan," de Kerchove said. "But an
Islamist terror franchise is developing in parallel, and the illustration of
that is the rallying to Al Qaida of groups like the Salifist Group for
Preaching and Combat and the Libyan Islamic Fighting Group."
Officials said Al Qaida operatives have acquired skills in intelligence,
bomb assembly, weapons and communications. They said most of these skills
were learned in Iraq where hundreds of North Africans served in Al Qaida
units.
"This threat is accentuated by the return to north African countries,
and in Europe, of jihadis who have acquired a certain expertise and are seen
as heroes, and therefore are a source of attraction [for recruits]," de
Kerchove said.
