Adam Gadahn, the name, it just doesn't have that P.R. gangsta mystique. He's no Jose Padilla, although the verbiage in use is remarkably similar.
purportedly appears to be believed to have apparently seemed to be
'Al Qaeda' tape threatens LA and Melbourne September 12, 2005 - 5:57AM
A videotape purportedly from a US-born member of al-Qaeda has threatened Los Angeles and Melbourne on the fourth anniversary of the September 11 attacks.
ABC News televised the video today, and said it had received it in Pakistan yesterday.
It reported that the masked speaker appears to be Adam Gadahn, from southern California, who threatens attacks on the two cities, "Allah willing", and warns that the attackers will show no compassion.
"Yesterday, London and Madrid. Tomorrow, Los Angeles and Melbourne," he said.
"We love peace, but peace on our terms" the speaker said.
Russ Knocke, a spokesman for the Department of Homeland Security, said US authorities are trying to verify the tape but "there's no specific intelligence to verify or substantiate" the claims and threats in it.
"We are certainly aware that al-Qaeda seeks to strike the United States and our interests abroad," he said. "We maintain a strong and vigilant security posture."
Gadahn is believed to have been the young American who appeared in another threatening tape about year ago.
ABC said the young man apparently converted to Islam at an Orange County, California, mosque as a teenager.
Los Angeles Police Chief William Bratton told ABC News his city has strong security measures already in place but is not ratcheting them up because of this particular tape.
"We have a very robust counter-terrorism operation here in LA, similar to New York and Washington because we are always a prime target," Bratton said. He added that Gadahn seemed to be "a mouthpiece, a spokesperson, not an operative".
Victoria police spokesman Inspector Craig Walsh says Australian authorities will analyse the video.
"We are working in conjunction with our federal and international counterparts to obtain a copy of the tape," Insp Walsh said.
"Once obtained, the tape will need to be authenticated and its contents analysed and considered prior to making any further statements." <...>
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