Friday, July 8 2005 11:35 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Dubai: A group calling itself the Organisation of Al-Qaeda Jihad in Europe claimed yesterday's (July 7, 2005) attacks in London and threatened similar strikes in Italy, Denmark and other "Crusader" states with troops in Iraq and Afghanistan.

"Heroic mujahedeens carried out a sacred attack in London, and here is Britain burning in fear, terror, and fright in the north, south, east and west," said, a statement posted on the Internet, which could not be authenticated.

The previously unknown group said the attacks were "in response to the massacres carried out by Britain in Iraq and Afghanistan."

"We have repeatedly warned the government and people of Britain, and we have now fulfilled our promise and have carried out a sacred military attack in Britain," it said.

"We continue to warn the governments of Denmark, Italy and all the Crusaders that they will meet the same punishment if they do not withdraw their troops from Iraq and Afghanistan."

The group addressed the Arab and Islamic world, saying that "it is time to take revenge from the Crusader and Zionist government in Britain, in retaliation for the massacres that Britain is committing in Iraq and Afghanistan."

Britain maintains over 7,500 troops in Iraq where the US coalition is facing a relentless and bloody insurgency.

Italy, another main strategic ally of Washington, has been deploying 3,000 soldiers in Iraq since June 2003 as part of the US-led military coalition and maintains a military Presence in Afghanistan.

Denmark has deployed about 530 troops in Iraq, most of them in the Basra region under British command, and has a lighter deployment in Afghanistan.