According pro-puppet Somali radio Shabelle referring to the military analyst, "groups linked to Al Qaeda in Somalia are using the international terror network to recruit Somali students in Pakistan and train them to carry out terrorist attacks in Europe", wrote UmmaNews.
Al Qaeda Emir Sheikh Ayman Al Zawahiri announced the merger of Somali Islamic Movement Al Shabab with al-Qaeda on February 10 this year, according to the agency - to create Al Qaeda in East Africa, or AQEA.
"They plan to move from their conventional base in the Afghanistan and Pakistan region to more vulnerable African countries", said Carl Adams, a "counterterrorism" expert based in Dubai.
In early 2012, hundreds of Mujahideen from the Middle East and Pakistan left Somalia, apparently to help AQAP defend territories in Yemen, where joint formations of Yemeni puppets, the US and the Saudi regime launched an offensive.
"Al Qaeda is weaker than it was 10 years ago, with Osama Bin Laden, Anwar Aulaki, and other key leaders no longer in the picture. But it remains a top threat", FBI Director Robert Mueller said a speech in July. "And in recent years, we have seen new threats from Al Qaeda affiliates in Pakistan, Somalia, and Yemen".
According to estimates from Security Foundation Inc, over 97 Somalis from Al Qaeda carried out attacks around the world since 2011 - a 300% increase.
In a recent incident, two Somali students were recruited from Karachi, which is seen by the "anti-terrorists" as the new financial and recruitment center to carry out martyrdom attacks in Europe.
The two Muslims, according to radio Shabelle, were to be trained in weapons and explosives in a remote area of Balochistan.
"They were to be sent to The Hague to carry out 26/11 type fidayeen attacks", said the intelligence source of Pakistani regime.
There are 5,000 to 8,000 Somali students in Pakistan, according to claims of intelligence sources. "Most of them study medicine and pharmacy", said an official from the Intelligence Bureau (IB). "Yes, we have taken precautions and have registered all foreign students living in Pakistan. But nothing else".
Why would Al Qaeda use Somalis from Pakistan to carry out attacks in Europe? "Why not", responds Carl Adams. "Most Somalis in Pakistan are educated and their parents support them from Middle Eastern countries. They have easier access to the outside world compared to those living in the war-ravaged Somalia".
"We take all these threats very seriously", the Netherlands embassy said in a comment. "We are working closely with our Pakistani counterparts to eliminate such threats".
Department of Monitoring
Kavkaz Center
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