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German Investigators Probe al-Qaida Link in Tunisia Blast


VOA News
18 Apr 2002 21:09 UTC
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German investigators are looking into a possible al-Qaida link to last week's deadly blast outside a synagogue in Tunisia. 

German media, including ZDF television, reports investigators discovered a link between a German man briefly detained in connection with the Tunisia explosion and the Hamburg al-Qaida cell believed to have helped plan the September 11 attacks on the United States. Reports say investigators found the number of a man linked to the Hamburg cell during a search of the detained man's apartment. 

German prosecutors have not commented on the reports. 

On Wednesday, German Interior Minister Otto Schily said investigators are considering all possibilities as to who was behind the explosion, including Osama bin Laden's al-Qaida terrorist network. Sixteen people were killed in the explosion, including 11 Germans. 

Mr. Schily also says there are no signs supporting Tunisia's original theory the explosion was an accident. In a change to its position, Tunisia Tuesday announced it is now considering the driver of the truck that exploded to be a suspect. 

Family members of the driver, Nizar Naouar, say he was a non-practicing Muslim, casting doubts on media claims he belonged to an Islamic extremist group. 

On Tuesday, two London-based Arab newspapers reported they had received claims of responsibility for the Tunisian blast from a group calling itself the Islamic Army for the Liberation of the Holy Sites. 

Some information for this report provided by AFP and AP.

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