Sports events in India fair game for attack: al-Qaeda

Islamabad: Global terror network al-Qaeda's Pakistan arm has warned of attacks in India, particularly targeting upcoming international sports events like the Commonwealth Games, the Hockey World Cup and the IPL cricket league, a media report said.

Asia Times Online said it had received a message from Illyas Kashmiri, who heads the 313 Brigade, an operational arm of the al-Qaeda in Pakistan. It also has links with the Lashkar-e-Taiba and Jaish-e-Mohammed -- the two known terror outfits fighting in Jammu and Kashmir.

The message received Monday, two days after the Pune bombing which killed 10 people, warns international players against participating in the mega sports events in India.

"We warn the international community not to send their people to the 2010 Hockey World Cup, IPL and Commonwealth Games (to be held in Delhi in October). If they do, they will be responsible for the consequences," Asia Times said, translating the message originally received in Urdu.

Kashmiri, a Harkat-ul-Jihadi Islami commander in Pakistan having close ties with the al-Qaeda, is believed to have played a role in the 26/11 terror attacks in Mumbai.

Indian investigators believe that David Headley and Tahhawur Hussain Rana, the suspected Lashkar operatives who are in US custody, were reporting to the 313 Brigade. Headley and Rana are alleged to have helped the Lashkar-e-Taiba in plotting possible terror attacks in India.

References to the 313 Brigade were made in the intercepted conversations between 26/11 terrorists and their Pakistani handlers.

In its new email, the terror group has warned that "the mujahideen of 313 Brigade vow to continue attacks all across India until the Indian Army leaves Kashmir and gives the Kashmiris their right of self-determination".

It also makes a reference to the 1992 demolition of Babri Masjid and 2002 Gujarat riots.

"We assure the Muslims of the subcontinent that we will never forget the massacre of the Muslims in Gujarat and the demolition of Babri Masjid. We warn the Indian government to compensate for all its injustices, otherwise they will see our next action."