Al-Qaeda Group Threatens France with More Attacks

Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM), the jihadist group’s affiliate in North Africa, has threatened France with more attacks.

“France pays the cost of its violence on Muslim countries and the violation of their sanctity,” Algeria-based AQIM said in a statement, published on jihadist websites, CNN reported.

“As long as its soldiers occupy countries such as Mali and Central Africa and bombard our people in Syria and Iraq, and as long as its lame media continues to undermine our Prophet (Muhammad), France will expose itself to the worst and more.”

On Wednesday, French satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo released its latest edition featuring a cartoon of Islam’s Muhammad and a satirical article mocking the Islamic State (ISIS, ISIL, IS).

AQIM reportedly praised the terrorist attacks over three days in Paris last week, including the one against Charlie Hebdo.

Islamists in Algeria, home to AQIM, took to the streets to celebrate the terrorist attacks in Paris.

CNN noted that AQIM has fought French forces in Africa, where many former French colonies, including Algeria, are located.

“More than 6,000 forces are involved in operations in and around Africa, according to [French] Defense Ministry spokesman Sacha Mendel,” reported CNN.

On January 7, jihadist brothers Said and Cherif Kouachi, who have been linked to al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP), carried out a terrorist attack against Charlie Hebdo that left 12 people dead.

On January 8, Amedy Coulibaly, who pledged allegiance to the Islamic State, killed a policewoman in the southern Parisian suburb of Montrouge.

That same gunman killed four people the following day at a kosher market in Paris in an attack that he said was coordinated with the assault on Charlie Hebdo.

French police killed the Kouachi brothers and Coulibaly.

The International Business Times noted that a third jihadist involved in the Charlie Hebdo attack surrendered to police.

A woman, Hayat Boumediene, linked to Coulibaly and initially believed to be an accomplice has reportedly escaped to Syria.

ISIS and AQAP have both claimed responsibility for the Charlie Hebdo attack. Members of ISIS fight against the al-Qaeda affiliate in Syria.