AP, Saana :
Al-Qaeda figure says in audio recording that attack on Charlie Hebdo was meant to show France limits of press freedom.
Al-Qaeda’s Yemeni branch has claimed responsibility for the deadly attack on the French Charlie Hebdo magazine, saying the shooting was an operation to teach the French the limits of freedom of expression.
Abu Hareth al-Nezari, an senior member of Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP), made the claim in an audio recording published online late on Friday.
“Some French were not polite with the prophets and that was the reason why a few of the believers, who loved Allah and his prophet and loved martyrdom, went to them to teach them how to behave and how to be polite with the prophets and to teach them that the freedom of expression has limits and boundaries,” al-Nezari said in the recording.
He also warned that France would not enjoy security unless it stopped what he called a “war” on Islam.
Wednesday’s attack on the magazine’s office, that left 12 people dead, and ensuing hostage seizes have shocked France and triggered a massive seucity operation. In addition to those killed at Charlie Hebdo , three civilians and two police officers have been killed.
One of the attackers, Said Kouachi, claimed to have been trained and financed by al-Qaeda in Yemen.
Yemeni intelligence officials confirmed to Al Jazeera that he had indeed been in Yemen in 2011, fighting with al-Qaeda, and had been deported.
