AQ hits world cup.

[cpwill]

Just came over Fox. suicide bombings: 64 dead.

 

[Lord Tammerlain]

Bombs kill 64 in Uganda -  News - MSN CA

Bombs exploded at two sites in Uganda's capital late Sunday as people watched the World Cup final on TV, and officials at the scene put the death toll at 64.

Foreigners, including Europeans and Americans, were among the casualties. The U.S. Embassy in Kampala confirmed Monday that one American was killed in the attacks, Reuters reported.

Police Chief Kale Kaihura said he believed that Somalia's most feared militia — al-Shabab, which has pledged loyalty to al-Qaeda — could be behind the attacks. Al-Shabab views Ethiopia as an enemy.

One of the bombs exploded at an Ethiopian restaurant in Kampala where at least three Americans were wounded. The second blast, the deadliest one, was at a restaurant called the Kyadondo Rugby Club


snip

Al-Shabab is Somalia's most dangerous militant group, one that militant veterans of the Afghan, Pakistan and Iraq conflicts have helped train, according to international officials.

If Kaihura's early suspicions that al-Shabab was responsible prove true, it would be the first time the group has carried out attacks outside of Somalia.

In Mogadishu, Sheik Yusuf Sheik Issa, an al-Shabab commander, told The Associated Press early Monday that he was happy with the attacks in Uganda. Issa refused to confirm or deny that al-Shabab was responsible for the bombings.

"Uganda is one of our enemies," he said. "Whatever makes them cry, makes us happy. May Allah's anger be upon those who are against us."

Militants urged to attack

During prayers on Friday, another al-Shabab commander, Sheik Muktar Robow, had called for militants to attack sites in Uganda and Burundi — two nations that contribute troops to the African Union force in Mogadishu.

In addition to its troops in Mogadishu, Uganda also hosts Somali soldiers trained in the U.S. and in European-backed training programs.

It more like Somali's

 

[cpwill]

al-shabaab joined al-qaeda earlier this year; they announced OBL as their leader and all that good stuff. they've basically replaced East Africa Al-Qaeda Cell, and AQ in Yemen has been forced to move their headquarters to al-Shabaab's protection. so it seems they've been looking for a nice big splashy attack to try to cement their new leading position at the front of the global jihad against the west, and Al Qaeda's chief aggressor arm. the world cup was a gift to them; close by, resources and people already in place, and guaranteed high visibility.