KABUL, Afghanistan — Islamic militants sought Tuesday to capitalize on anger over an anti-Islam video that was produced in the United States, saying a suicide bombing that killed 12 people in Afghanistan was revenge for the film and calling for attacks on U.S. diplomats and facilities in North Africa.
The attempt by extremists across the region to harness Muslim fury over a film that denigrates the Prophet Muhammad posed new concerns for the United States, whose embassies and consulates have been targeted, and in some cases breached, during riots and protests over the past week.
At least 28 people have died in violence linked to the film in seven countries, including U.S. Ambassador J. Christopher Stevens and three other Americans killed in a Sept. 11 attack on the U.S. Consulate in Benghazi, Libya. The toll also includes 12 protesters killed in riots over the film last week.
The crisis has become a major foreign policy challenge for Washington in the final weeks of a presidential election campaign that has largely focused on economic challenges. The uproar over the video, “Innocence of Muslims,” which was made by an Egyptian-born American citizen and posted on YouTube, reflects seemingly intractable tension between Western principles of free speech and Islamic beliefs that brook no insult directed at the prophet.
The crisis offered fresh impetus for Islamic militants who have long plotted and carried out attacks on Western targets.
Tuesday’s attack in Kabul, the Afghan capital, was carried out by a suicide bomber who rammed a car packed with explosives into a mini-bus carrying foreign aviation workers to the airport. At least 12 people died, including eight South Africans, three Afghans and a citizen of Kyrgyzstan. The New York Times said most of the foreigners worked under contract with the U.S. government.
A spokesman for the Afghan militant group, Hizb-i-Islami, claimed responsibility for the attack and said it was carried out by a 22-year-old woman named Fatima. Suicide bombings carried out by women are extremely rare in Afghanistan, where few if any Afghan women drive cars.
“The anti-Islam film hurt our religious sentiments, and we cannot tolerate it,” spokesman Haroon Zarghoon said.
Also, al-Qaeda’s branch in North Africa called for attacks on U.S. diplomats and an escalation of protests against the anti-Islam film. Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb praised the killing of Stevens and urged Muslims to pull down and burn American flags at embassies, and kill or expel American diplomats to “purge our land of their filth in revenge for the honor of the prophet.”
In Tunisia, Foreign Minister Rafik Abdessalem pledged to bring to justice those behind protests outside the U.S. Embassy in Tunis that saw cars burned and classrooms at a nearby American school trashed and looted.
“Violence is not tolerated, no matter where it comes from and can in no way be justified,” he said. “We will strictly enforce the law against those implicated in the ongoing investigation.”
Reactions around the world
A look at protests and events across the world on Tuesday responding to an anti-Muslim film, nearly a week after angry crowds began assaulting a string of U.S. embassies in the Mideast.
Egypt: The general prosecutor issued arrest warrants for seven Egyptian Coptic Christians and Florida-based American pastor Terry Jones and referred them to trial on charges linked to an anti-Islam film. The prosecutor’s office said the accused, which includes the film’s alleged producer, face charges of harming national unity, insulting and publicly attacking Islam and spreading false information. The office said they could face the death penalty, if convicted.
Israel: About 500 Palestinians demonstrated against the film in the Shuafat refugee camp in east Jerusalem, chanting “We love you Muhammad” and “We will all sacrifice ourselves for the prophet.” Some 200 people marched to a nearby Israeli checkpoint, lobbing rocks and firebombs at security forces, who fired stun grenades, tear gas and rubber bullets to disperse the protesters. No serious injuries were reported.
Bangladesh: The government blocked YouTube late Monday to prevent people from seeing the video.
Indonesia: About 200 people from various Islamic groups torched an American flag and tires outside the U.S. Consulate in Medan, the nation’s third-largest city. Some unfurled banners saying, “Go to hell America,” while others trampled on dozens of paper flags. Protests also occurred in Gorontalo, Makassa and Palu.
Kashmir: Marchers burned U.S. flags and an effigy of President Barack Obama, shutting down businesses and public transportation in Srinagar. Police fired tear gas and used batons to disperse rock-throwing protesters as they tried to enter the main business district. The bar association, trade unions and separatist groups supported the shutdown.
Pakistan: Hundreds of protesters broke through a barricade outside the U.S. Consulate in the city of Peshawar. Demonstrators threw bricks and flaming wads of cloth at the police, who pushed them back by firing tear gas and rubber bullets and charging with batons. Several were wounded on both sides. The protest was organized by the youth wing of the hard-line Jamaat-e-Islami party.
Thailand: An estimated 400 people protested peacefully outside the U.S. Embassy in Bangkok, where protesters carried signs and banners saying, “We love Prophet Muhammad” and “Stop insulting our religion,” and chanting, “Down with America” and “Down with Israel.” The demonstration was organized by a group called the International Al Quds Federation of Thailand, which had called for a peaceful protest on its Facebook page.
Saudi Arabia: The state-owned press agency reports that King Abdullah has ordered the blocking of all websites with access to the film.
Russia: A cabinet minister says authorities will block access to YouTube if it refuses to take down the film.
The Associated Press
