Assassination of German president foiled (Islamist group planned to kill him)

Reuters ^ | 3-23-04

[veronica]

BERLIN (Reuters) - German President Johannes Rau has cancelled a planned visit to Djibouti after German security services warned him of an assassination plot, his office says.

The statement said the security services had received information that an Islamist group planned to kill him during a visit to the Horn of Africa state to meet German troops stationed there.

The decision to cancel the visit comes amid heightened security fears following the recent train bombings in Madrid by a group suspected to be linked to al Qaeda.

"In the judgement of the services responsible, there was a considerable and concrete personal risk to the President," the president's office said.

But Djibouti's Communications Minister Rifki Abdoulkader Bamakhrama told Reuters he was not aware of any plot against Rau, who had also been due to meet his Djibouti counterpart.

"There is no plot against any president from any country... There is no risk signalled by our security service," he said, insisting that his country was stable.

"I have just heard that the president's trip was cancelled. The Germans are afraid of an attack and of course are free to decide whatever they want."

Although it opposed the U.S.-led war in Iraq, Germany has cracked down hard on militant Islamists since it emerged that several of the plotters behind the September 11, 2001 attacks on the United States had lived in the country as students.

German navy personnel are serving in Djibouti as part of the U.S.-led "Enduring Freedom" operation against al Qaeda militants. Dozens of suspected militants have been arrested in the Horn of Africa over the past 15 months.

Rau, who has held the largely ceremonial office of German head of state since 1999, steps down this year and is expected to be succeeded by the head of the International Monetary Fund, Horst Koehler.

[Betaille]

But.. I thought they would stop attacking the Europeans once the Spanish gave them what they want! Whats going on here? \Sarchasm off

[pogo101]

Why the heck would anyone kill the German president? The job is essentially a hood ornament, a diploma-signer.

[observer5]

But Germany was against the waaar in Iraq!

How is it possible that these peaceful Islamists are going after their allies?

[bert]

Terrorists 1, Krauts 0

[livius]

Guess that should show Europeans (including the Spanish) that there's absolutely no way to get on the "good side" of Islamics. They simply don't have one.

[NTegraT]

"How is it possible that these peaceful Islamists are going after their allies?"

I dunno, but whatever it is, it's Bush's fault.

[ladyinred]

Gee? Aren't they safe from Islamic terrorists because they don't support us in the war? /sarcasm

The world better get a heads up here. These terrorists intend to kill all of us if they can. Even those bleeding heart socialists who just want to know why they hate us, and it must be our own fault. They are snakes.

[breakem]

I miss the old days when trying to kill the president of another country was an act of war. Now it's just "unfortunate." Were I Clinton, I'd have nuked Saddam afetr he tried to kill Bush I.

[Betis70]

Halliburton must be involved as well.

[USF]

Apparently Islam is a religion of tolerance... and they decided they tolerated this infidel long enough.

[Mark17]

Ping

[TruthShallSetYouFree]

Apparently, the Muslim credo is "If you are not as faithful a servant of Mohammed as I am, I will kill you!" This means that the plan is: first they will kill all the Jews, then all the Christians, then the more secular Muslims, then the Wahabbi's that aren't total fanatics. When there are only two fanatically devout Muslims left, the more devout will kill the less devout. Then, he will kill himself.

[bbrowder1559]

Has anyone yet realized this is not a war against Islamic fanatics, yet of an entire religion against the "infidels"? I think not! Bush realized a full scale war with Islam is imminent, so what better than to place U.S. Troops in the heart of the Islamic world, think about it. If any Arab country irritates us, we invade them, Turkey, Georgia, Lebanon, Azerbaijan, Iran, God-forbid Saudi Arabia, Egypt, the Palestinian controlled area of Israel, etc.? That's why terrorists are targeting our troops in Iraq! It's the central point in the Arab world that if we control we control it entirely! As for the German president, why go for him, why not the Chancellor, Gerard Shroder, the "Prince of Peace", or is Jacque Chirac the "Prince of Peace"? Who knows. Shame it did not go through, then maybe Europe would realize you CANNOT satisfy Islam's thirst. We are living in interesting times.

[alrea]

heil peace

[theDentist]

Another example of Islamo-Fascist gratitude.

[nypokerface]

This is hard to believe. Why would the terrorist attack one of their allies?

[LibertyAndJusticeForAll]

German navy personnel are serving in Djibouti as part of the U.S.-led "Enduring Freedom" operation against al Qaeda militants. Dozens of suspected militants have been arrested in the Horn of Africa over the past 15 months.

I guess Al Qaeda is letting Europe know that they will settle for nothing less than complete surrender.

[blam]

" This means that the plan is: first they will kill all the Jews, then all the Christians, then the more secular Muslims, then the Wahabbi's that aren't total fanatics. When there are only two fanatically devout Muslims left, the more devout will kill the less devout. Then, he will kill himself."

LOL. Then will the POS Allah be happy?

[rightwingcrazy]

Should make PETA happy.