http://news.yam.com/cna/china/200808/20080810047519.html
新疆庫車縣發生多起爆炸 已知兩人死亡
中央社╱中央社 2008-08-10 09:13
    
（中央社台北十日電）北京奧運進入第二天賽事，新疆南部重鎮庫車縣今天凌晨三時二十分許至四時許，卻在公安局、銀行等地發生多起爆炸，目前已知至少造成兩人死亡。

據新華社報導，爆炸發生後，當地公安、武警全力追捕嫌犯，包圍了部分嫌犯的住所，在追捕過程中，至少擊斃、擊傷四至五人。

初步調查顯示，爆炸物主要是自製的，有人從車內向外投擲。從現場情況分析，相關部門認為，這是一起有預謀的、多人實施的犯罪活動。

報導引述目擊者表示，爆炸發生在庫車縣中心城區，爆炸聲之後出現強烈火光，還聽到零星槍聲。警方現已封鎖爆炸的地方。部隊也開始動員。

庫車縣是新疆阿克蘇地區第一大縣，人口四十萬，縣城距烏魯木齊約七百四十公里。

http://news.yam.com/afp/china/200808/20080810047499.html
中國新疆發生多起爆炸攻擊 已知兩人死亡
法新社╱郭無患 2008-08-10 08:05    
 
 
（法新社北京十日電）中國官方媒體表示，新疆地區今天清晨發生多起爆炸，報導引述目擊者的話說，他們在爆炸發生後看到火光並聽到零星槍響。

「新華社」報導，至少有兩人在一連串的爆炸事件中喪生，報導並引述當地消息人士的話說，傷亡數字可能往上攀升。

報導並未提及這起攻擊由何人或哪個團體所為，不到兩天前，北京奧運才剛開幕。

新疆的維吾爾分離主義份子之前透過錄影帶威脅攻擊奧運，中國官方也警告，國內和海外的「恐怖份子」對奧運構成沈重威脅。新疆人口結構以穆斯林為主。

新華社報導，爆炸攻擊於今天清晨三時二十分（同台灣時間）到四時之間，發生在新疆南部大城庫車。

根據報導，公安已在爆炸發生地拉起封鎖線，目擊者說，軍方已經進駐干預，但報導沒有說明詳細的傷亡情況。

庫車人口約四十萬，距離新疆首府烏魯木齊約七百四十公里。烏魯木齊八月四日發生一起疑似恐怖攻擊，造成十六名武警喪生。

http://udn.com/NEWS/MAINLAND/MAI1/4463564.shtml
東突揚言攻擊 反恐專家示警

【聯合報╱編譯田思怡／綜合八日外電報導】 2008.08.09 03:31 am

 
專門注意激進組織動態的美國民間機構SITE情報集團七日說，揚言攻擊奧運的東突厥斯坦伊斯蘭黨在京奧開幕的兩天前公布新錄影帶，警告穆斯林不要與中國人搭同班飛機、火車和巴士，穆斯林的孩子要遠離奧運場所。反恐專家研判不是說說而已。

SITE情報集團說，這支影帶長六分鐘，據信是尋求新疆獨立的東突厥斯坦伊斯蘭黨發布，這個激進組織的據點在巴基斯坦邊界，安全專家說，他們的核心成員曾接受凱達組織訓練。

影帶中說話的人手持步槍，戴黑色頭巾和面罩，他警告說：「請選邊站，不要與中國人搭同班巴士、火車、飛機，或前往同一棟建築和任何有中國人的地方。」

他使用維吾爾族的突厥語，新疆約有八百萬信奉伊斯蘭教的維吾爾人，他們是中國的少數民族。這個激進組織上月公布恐嚇錄影帶，宣稱這幾個月來大陸發生的一連串巴士爆炸案都是他們幹的。他們曾在今年五月攻擊上海巴士前提出警告，結果真的發動了攻擊。

最新的錄影帶使用的圖像與之前的類似：燃燒的奧運標誌和奧運運動場爆炸的慘狀。

提供美國政府反恐情報的IntelCenter的萬茲克說，根據此激進組織展現的爆炸攻擊能力，以及該組織相信奧運是打擊中共的大好機會，因此該組織發出的威脅是可信的，應認真看待。

他說，此激進組織這三個月來發布的兩支錄影帶和長達五頁的書面恐嚇，「顯示他們經過精密策畫，目的是完成聖戰士的信仰，他們認為在發動重大攻擊前應先發出警告」。

中共派出逾十萬軍警維護北京和其他奧運主辦城市的安全，因此反恐專家說，這可能迫使恐怖分子攻擊警力較少的地區。

【2008/08/09 聯合報】

http://www.libertytimes.com.tw/2008/new/aug/9/today-fo1.htm
自由時報2008年8月9日

東突威脅 恐怖陰影籠罩中國 
〔編譯管淑平、駐日特派員張茂森／綜合報導〕北京奧運八日開幕之際，中國穆斯林分離組織東突發出新威脅，揚言在奧運期間攻擊大眾運輸系統；中國航空也在奧運開幕前數小時接獲炸彈警告，迫使一班從日本名古屋飛往成都的班機緊急折返，另有多班延誤。

中國航空 獲炸彈警告

日本運輸省指出，中國航空駐東京辦事處八日中午過後接獲以電子郵件發出的威脅，以日文撰寫的內容警告中國航空停飛所有航班，「否則我們會炸掉飛機，我們將讓飛機墜毀在奧運會場。」中國航空編號四○六班機八日下午原定搭載七十人從名古屋經上海飛往成都的班機因此緊急折返；另有四架飛往北京或上海的班機也因此延後起飛，接受檢查確定安全無虞後才又啟程。

運輸省說：「我們懷疑這是與奧運有關的威脅。」不過並未進一步說明是否懷疑與特定組織有關。

此外，美國監督好戰組織活動的情報觀察組織「ＳＩＴＥ情報集團」以及提供反恐情報的「情報中心」（IntelCenter）七日都公佈一份由疆獨組織突厥斯坦伊斯蘭黨發出的近六分鐘警告影片，揚言要發動攻擊奧運的行動。

影片中有焚燒北京奧運標誌和奧運館場上空爆炸的畫面，並有一名為曼蘇爾的東突份子，蒙著面罩、戴著頭巾，手裡拿著看起來像是步槍的武器警告穆斯林「選邊站」，「不要與中國人坐同一輛巴士、搭同一班火車、同一班飛機、處於同一棟建築物，或者任何有中國人的地方。」

曼蘇爾說，他的組織「已經對中國宣戰。我們反對中國佔領我們的家鄉東突厥斯坦。」

「情報中心」認為這份針對奧運而來的威脅「可信且應該嚴肅看待」，該組織還說，「不能完全排除生物攻擊威脅，不過更有可能的攻擊方式會是利用爆裂物。」上個月東突也曾警告將攻擊北京奧運，並對近幾個月中國數起爆炸攻擊案負責。

在東突攻擊威脅下，中國當局八日關閉以穆斯林居民為主的新疆首府烏魯木齊的市集，就連烏魯木齊商業區的速食店肯德基也關閉。

北京前兩天 公車爆炸

另據港報報導，奧運開幕前兩天，北京六日接連發生公車爆炸，地點都在長安街，一起是二○五路公車在上午十一點左右行駛途中車內空調突然爆炸，三名乘客受傷，其中一人右腿被炸斷；另一起是十路公車下午四點半左右在鬧市口大街公交站爆炸。而明報報導說，當天中午另有一輛五十四路公車也傳出起火造成多人受傷。

北京奧組委七日被問及此事時未明確否認，北京市公車集團也已要求全市公車檢查帶包包搭車的乘客。

http://news.yam.com/cna/china/200808/20080808011986.html
情報專家呼籲重視東突襲擊奧運最新影帶
中央社╱中央社 2008-08-08 13:17
    
（中央社台北八日電）英國廣播公司 (BBC）中文網今天表示，美國一家監控恐怖及激進組織並收集有關情報的公司透露，東突厥組織公佈新錄影帶威脅要在奧運期間發動襲擊，情報專家呼籲有關當局重視這一威脅。

報導稱，這段錄影約六分鐘長，錄影中的男子蒙面持槍，自稱屬於東突厥斯坦伊斯蘭黨的宗教教育部門，他警告穆斯林不要參加北京奧運會或到中國旅行。

這位蒙面客還警告，在中國及世界其他地方，穆斯林都不要和中國人待在同一個建築、商店、公車或火車，也不要和中國人搭乘同一架飛機。

BBC認為，這項訊息似乎是在暗示其組織可能針對中國目標及海外華人目標發動襲擊。

東突伊斯蘭黨七月也公佈一段類似的錄影帶，聲稱對七月二十一日發生在昆明及五月五日發生在上海的兩起公車爆炸事件負責。

透露這項訊息的是美國情報中心，是一家專門監控恐怖組織及激進組織並搜集有關情報的公司，曾向美國中央情報局等機構提供情報。

報導引述情報中心首席執行官文斯科的話指出，東突伊斯蘭黨顯然具備發動爆炸襲擊的能力，而且明顯認為奧運會可以作為襲擊目標而且會給中國造成打擊，根據這些因素看來，有關威脅「應該得到重視」。

BBC表示，中國目前在北京等奧運城市部署超過十萬名軍警維護秩序和提防襲擊，專家認為這可能迫使襲擊者對相對保護較弱的地區發動攻擊。

http://news.yam.com/afp/international/200808/20080808011350.html
美情報組織：疆獨組織威脅攻擊奧運運輸工具
法新社╱張仲琬 2008-08-08 10:50   

 
（法新社北京七日電）美國情報監控組織「情報中心網站」今天表示，中國伊斯蘭分離團體威脅攻擊北京奧運的飛機與地面運輸工具。

該團體透過近六分鐘的影帶，警告「鎖定中國開火」。影帶並呼籲穆斯林讓子女遠離奧運。

總部設於華盛頓的情報中心網站今天發佈錄影畫面複本，並表示畫面出自於東土耳其斯坦伊斯蘭黨。這個維吾爾族伊斯蘭團體爭取在穆斯林人口佔多數的新疆獨立建國。

情報中心網站的翻譯顯示，名為曼蘇爾的東土耳其斯坦伊斯蘭黨成員警告，奧運公共運輸工具將遭受攻擊。

曼蘇爾表示，他所屬的這個地下組織已「對中國宣戰。我們反對中國佔領祖國東土耳其斯坦…因為這個國家體制立基於無神論。」

提供情報分析的情報中心網站表示，依據東土耳其斯坦伊斯蘭黨先前發動的攻擊，此次的奧運威脅「十分可信並應嚴肅看待」。

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080808/ap_on_re_as/oly_china_olympics_threat;_ylt=ArFeEhpXW8gTAugu1UtOimis0NUE
Islamic group threatens Olympic transport

By WILLIAM FOREMAN, Associated Press Writer
Fri Aug 8, 3:37 AM ET

URUMQI, China - Police shut down the bustling bazaar in the capital of China's restive Muslim region of Xinjiang on Friday amid threats from an Islamic group that attackers might target buses, trains and planes during the Olympics.

A sign at the entrance of the bazaar in Urumqi did not explain why the area, surrounded by mosques with minarets, was off limits as the country prepared to kick off the Summer Games thousands of miles away in Beijing.

Even a KFC restaurant in the shopping area — filled with touristy shops selling carpets and jade — was closed, and a guard sitting on the steps shooed people away.

The sprawling, far-flung western region of Xinjiang has long been a source of trouble for China's communist government. The rugged, mineral-rich territory is populated by the Uighurs, a Turkic Muslim minority that has had tense relations with the Chinese. Many Uighurs favor independence or greater autonomy for Xinjiang, which takes up one-sixth of China's land mass and borders eight Central Asian countries.

On Thursday, a videotape purportedly made by the Turkistan Islamic Party — a militant group seeking Xinjiang independence — was released with threats to launch attacks during the Olympics.

"Choose your side," says the videotape's speaker, grasping a rifle and dressed in a black turban and camouflage with his face masked.

"Do not stay on the same bus, on the same train, on the same plane, in the same buildings or any place the Chinese are," he warns Muslims, according to a translation by the SITE Intelligence Group, a U.S. operation that monitors militant organizations.

The Turkistan Islamic Party is believed to be based across the border in Pakistan, where security experts say core members have received training from al-Qaeda.

Last month, the militant group issued videotaped threats and claimed responsibility for a series of bus bombings in China in recent months. The latest video features graphics similar to ones used earlier: a burning Olympics logo and an explosion imposed over an apparent Olympic venue.

The new video claims the communist regime's alleged mistreatment of Muslims justifies holy war. It accuses China of forcing Muslims into atheism by capturing and killing Islamic teachers and destroying Islamic schools, according to the SITE. It also says China's birth control program has forced abortions on Muslim women.

"I think what they're doing is they're trying to capitalize on the buildup to the games," said Ben Venzke of the Washington-based IntelCenter, which provides counterterrorism intelligence to U.S. government agencies.

Venzke said Friday that his group believes that based on the militant group's demonstrated ability to conduct bombings "and the apparent opportunity TIP believes the Olympic Games presents in terms of targeting and striking a blow to China, that the threat is credible and should be taken seriously."

He said the release of a five-page written threat, in conjunction with two videos over the last three months by the group "is indicative of an orchestrated campaign designed to fulfill jihadists belief that they should provide warning before launching a significant attack."

More than 100,000 soldiers and police are guarding Beijing and other Olympic co-host cities. Terrorism experts say the heavy security presence would likely force attackers to target less-protected areas.

Beijing's iconic Tiananmen Square was mostly closed off to visitors much of Friday as Chinese President Hu Jintao hosted world leaders at a luncheon banquet at the Great Hall of the People ahead of the opening ceremonies.

"I think the actual Olympics themselves, the venues, the guests, the athletes, are going to be safe," said Drew Thompson, director of China studies at the Nixon Center in Washington. "I would not be an alarmist."

Thompson said the Uighur groups haven't demonstrated they have the capacity to attack Beijing or other host cities during the games.

On Monday, assailants killed 16 border police and wounded 16 others in the Xinjiang city of Kashgar when they rammed a stolen truck into the group before tossing homemade bombs and stabbing them. Chinese authorities called the raid a terrorist attack and said they had arrested two men who are Uighurs.

Authorities have called the men terrorists, but officials have released no evidence linking them to a specific group.

Xinjiang's capital, Urumqi, has been on high alert. Security guards were checking bags at the entrances of hotels, department stores and discos in the busy city, which unlike other Xinjiang cities is predominantly Han Chinese — the nation's largest ethnic group. In the past 50 years, Han Chinese have been flooding into the region, creating another sore point with the Uighurs.  

http://news.yam.com/afp/international/200808/20080805943979.html
維吾爾流亡領袖譴責新疆襲警 促北京勿藉口鎮壓
法新社╱楊玫寧 2008-08-05 09:35    

 
（法新社華盛頓四日電）中國維吾爾穆斯林海外流亡領袖熱比婭今天譴責新疆地區一起疑為恐怖攻擊造成十六名武警喪生的事件，但同時呼籲北京當局勿對「和平的維吾爾族」發動鎮壓。

熱比婭在華盛頓說：「我們譴責所有暴行。」她在北京被關押的六年後流亡海外，自二零零五年以來一直住在華府。

「新華社」報導，這起事件是中國近幾年來傳出死傷最慘重的攻擊事件之一，今天造成新疆喀什地區至少十六名武警遇難，在北京奧運揭幕前四天引發安全疑慮。

根據報導，兩名襲擊男子年齡分別為二十八歲和三十三歲，並已在事發後不久遭到逮捕，身分確認為維吾爾族。

熱比婭主持的美國維吾爾協會表示，正尋求獲得這起事件立場獨立的報告，並敦促國際社會「以審慎態度檢視中國政府有關維吾爾族恐怖暴行的說明，因為中國當局的指控經常缺乏證據佐證」。

她呼籲中國政府「自我克制，勿藉口利用這起事件進一步打壓和平的維吾爾族」。

新疆與阿富汗和中亞接壤，居民大都為穆斯林維吾爾族，使用語言屬突厥語族的維吾爾語。許多維吾爾人宣稱六十年以來遭中共鎮壓性政策迫害。

http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20080805/wl_afp/oly2008_080805011047
Sixteen police killed in China border attack

by Karl Malakunas
56 minutes ago

BEIJING (AFP) - China's Olympic run-up stuttered again as 16 policemen were killed in a grenade attack in the nation's far northwest, while pollution returned to fill athletes' lungs in Beijing.

The attack in the Muslim-populated Xinjiang region raised the security temperature ahead of the Games, which begin on Friday, as authorities had repeatedly warned that militants there were planning to sabotage the Olympics.

It also follows deadly bomb blasts in the southwestern city of Kunming last month and in Shanghai in May, killing a total of five people, for which a Muslim militant group with ties to Xinjiang claimed responsibility.

The Chinese organisers of the Games said they were checking for any link between Monday's attack and the Olympics, but immediately sought to reassure the world about security arrangements for the event.

"We believe that we are prepared to deal with any kind of security threat and we are confident and capable of hosting a peaceful and safe Games," said Beijing Olympic organising committee spokesman Sun Weide.

Nevertheless, police in Hong Kong, the southern Chinese city hosting the Olympic equestrian events, said they would reassess security there to see if the attack had any implication for the competition.

According to the official version of the attack published in state-run media, two assailants in Xinjiang's famed Silk Road city of Kashgar killed 16 policemen and injured another 16.

The pair drove a truck at the police officers who were jogging near their barracks in the northwestern outskirts of the city, the Xinhua news agency said.

After the truck hit a roadside pole, the two got out and threw home-made explosives at the barracks, then moved in to hack at police officers with knives, Xinhua reported, adding that both attackers were arrested.

Kashgar is 4,000 kilometres (2,500 miles) from Beijing, close to the Tajikistan border.

Xinhua did not identify who the terrorists may be affiliated with, but China has previously said that Muslim groups seeking independence for Xinjiang and the creation of "East Turkestan" were a major security threat.

The exiled leader of China's Uighur Muslims condemned the reported killing of 16 policemen.

"We condemn all acts of violence," Rebiya Kadeer said in Washington, where she has been living in exile since 2005 after spending six years in a Beijing prison. "The Uighur people do not support acts that engender bloodshed."

Kadeer's Uighur American Association said it was seeking independent accounts of the incident and urged the international community "to view Chinese government accounts regarding Uighur terrorist acts with caution, as government authorities consistently fail to provide evidence to back up their claims."

Xinjiang, a vast area that borders Central Asia, has about 8.3 million ethnic Muslim Uighurs , and many are unhappy with what they say has been decades of repressive Communist Chinese rule.

The East Turkestan Islamic Movement (ETIM), which reportedly operates inside Xinjiang and in neighbouring Afghanistan, is listed by China, the United States and the United Nations as a terrorist organisation.

However exiled Uighur dissidents and some human rights groups say China's claims that the ETIM is a major threat were exaggerated.

Last month, a group calling itself the Turkestan Islamic Party (TIP) claimed credit for the deadly bus blasts in Shanghai and Kunming. Some experts believe TIP is part of ETIM.

After raising the alarm about Olympic terrorist attacks, China denied the TIP carried out those attacks, but said nothing more as to who may be responsible.

Another problem facing China in the Olympics run-up has been Beijing's notorious pollution, which International Olympic Committee president Jacques Rogge said last year could lead to some endurance events being postponed.

After relatively clear skies over the weekend led Chinese officials to trumpet the success of drastic anti-pollution measures, a familiar heavy smog permeated the city on Monday.

One million of the city's 3.3 million cars were taken off the roads from July 20, and more than 100 heavily polluting factories and building sites were closed down in efforts to clear the air ahead of the Games.

Chinese authorities have said they could take further measures if air quality remained poor, and officials were quoted in the state press on Monday as saying those emergency plans may kick in soon.

Nevertheless, when asked about the return of the clearly visible pollution, Olympic organising committee spokesman Sun insisted the quality of the air was good on Monday and that there would be no problem for athletes.

http://www.libertytimes.com.tw/2008/new/jul/28/today-int2.htm
自由時報2008年7月28日

美反恐專家警告 東突有能力攻擊奧運
〔編譯張沛元／法新社華盛頓二十六日電〕一名美國專家二十六日表示，二十五日晚間宣稱犯下中國境內近日一連串攻擊事件的維吾爾分離主義組織「突厥斯坦伊斯蘭黨」（ＴＩＰ），其揚言要在北京奧運期間繼續發動攻擊的威脅，極可能所言不假。

儘管中國官方已否認ＴＩＰ是五月上海公車爆炸案的幕後主使，長期監控恐怖組織的美國「情報中心」網站（IntelCenter）執行長凡茲克認為，ＴＩＰ一捲顯示如何製造汽車炸彈的錄影帶，證明該組織有能力發動重大攻擊。凡茲克說，現階段而言，除ＴＩＰ展示他們具有處理炸彈能力外，再加上ＴＩＰ深信奧運是鎖定與痛擊中國的一大良機，「（ＴＩＰ的）威脅相當可靠，應審慎以對」。

「情報中心」網站二十五公布ＴＩＰ最新影片的副本。ＴＩＰ在影片中宣稱犯下一連串攻擊，包括造成兩死的兩宗雲南巴士爆炸案，以及今年五月造成三死的上海公車爆炸案。但雲南與上海的公安皆否認ＴＩＰ是爆炸案主謀。

儘管如此，凡茲克說，ＴＩＰ的威脅恐怕並非虛言；問題在於在被ＴＩＰ點名的八座奧運主辦與協辦城市（譯註：應該只有七城）中，究竟具有多少攻擊能力，以及ＴＩＰ是否有能力在奧運期間持續進行攻擊，或發動一、兩場大規模攻擊。

根據美國情報分析網站「戰略預測」（Stratfor），ＴＩＰ是維吾爾族的「東突厥斯坦伊斯蘭黨」的別名，該組織同時被美、中兩國列為恐怖組織。「戰略預測」分析說，ＴＩＰ指揮官塞伊弗拉在影片中宣稱犯案看似超乎事實，但也不應被斥為無稽，或漠視該組織進一步攻擊中國大眾運輸系統的可能性。「情報中心」網站表示，他們握有一捲ＴＩＰ拍攝的錄影帶，顯示如何在卡車安裝炸彈，另一捲影帶則顯示一名自殺炸彈客準備發動攻擊。

凡茲克還說，犯下九一一恐怖攻擊的「開打」組織第二號人物札瓦希里，曾多次提及維吾爾人為東突厥斯坦所做的奮戰；儘管受重視程度不及索馬利亞、蘇丹、阿爾及利亞與其他主要恐怖份子，被札瓦希里提及等同於在東突厥斯坦的恐怖活動，已與其他重要「聖戰」齊名。

http://news.yam.com/afp/international/200807/20080727812118.html
美專家：分離主義份子真實威脅北京奧運
法新社╱郭無患 2008-07-27 13:35     

 
（法新社華盛頓二十六日電）美國專家今天指出，一個中國穆斯林分離主義組織宣稱要在北京奧運期間發動攻擊，應是真實的威脅；這個組織宣稱，他們幹下中國最近幾件巴士炸彈攻擊案。

雖然中國官方今天稍早否認「突厥斯坦伊斯蘭黨」主使上海公車爆炸案，但「情報中心網站」主任范茲克在華府表示，突厥斯坦伊斯蘭黨的錄影帶資料介紹如何製作卡車炸彈，這就是這個組織有能力進行造成嚴重損害攻擊的證明。

范茲克表示，「此刻我們認為，根據突厥斯坦伊斯蘭黨所展示炸彈攻擊的能力，同時這個組織顯然認為，以目標和對中國給予重大一擊而言，奧運是明顯的機會，這個威脅是確實的，必須嚴肅對待」。

范茲克二十五日公布突厥斯坦伊斯蘭黨最近的錄影帶，他們在其中宣稱，二十一日在雲南省造成兩人死亡的兩起公車爆炸案，以及五月份在上海造成三人死亡的公車爆炸案，都是他們所為。

范茲克表示，威脅可能是真實的。

「問題是這個組織對於他們所宣稱要威脅八個城市的能耐，以及該組織是否有能力在奧運期間持續威脅，或進行一到兩次大規模攻擊」。 

http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20080727/wl_asia_afp/oly2008attackschinauighuranalyst_080727032432;_ylt=AjVuJIyykN5uYDkleLgETC7tOrgF
Chinese separatists' Olympics threat 'credible': US analyst

by Paul Handley
2 hours, 45 minutes ago

WASHINGTON (AFP) - A Chinese Muslim separatist group's threats to launch attacks during the Beijing Olympics are credible, a US expert said Saturday, after the group claimed credit for several recent bus bombings in China.

Although Chinese officials earlier Saturday denied that the Turkestan Islamic Party (TIP) was behind the bus bombings in Shanghai, IntelCenter director Ben Venzke pointed to a TIP video showing how to make a truck bomb as evidence that the group has the capacity for serious attacks.

"At this point in time we believe that, based on the TIP's demonstrated ability to conduct bombings and the apparent opportunity TIP believes the Olympic Games presents in terms of targeting and striking a blow to China, that the threat is credible and should be taken seriously," Venzke said.

Venzke, whose company monitors extremist threats around the world for private clients, on Friday released a transcript of TIP's latest video claiming credit for a pair of bus blasts that killed two people Monday in Yunnan province, and a bus explosion in Shanghai in May that killed three.

Chinese officials quickly rejected the claim, denying that TIP, an ethnic Uighur group which seeks to break off part of China's heavily Muslim Xinjiang province into an independent East Turkestan homeland, had caused the explosions.

"We have noticed media reports about the claims, but so far no evidence has been found to indicate the explosions were connected with terrorists and their attacks, or with the Beijing Olympics," a Yunnan public security official was quoted as saying by the official Xinhua news agency.

"The (May 5) blast was indeed deliberate but had nothing to do with terrorist attacks," Cheng Jiulong, deputy head of Shanghai police, told Xinhua.

But Venzke says the threat is likely real.

"Questions remain as to exactly what the TIP capabilities are in the eight cities they have threatened and whether the group has the ability to conduct a sustained campaign during the Games or one or two large-scale attacks."

According to global intelligence analysts Stratfor, TIP is another name for the ethnic Uighur Islamic Party of East Turkestan (ETIM), a group labelled a terrorist organization by both the United States and China.

In the video released this week and dated July 23, TIP leader Commander Seyfullah warned China of more explosions to come.

"Our aim is to target the most critical points related to the Olympics. We will try to attack Chinese central cities severely using the tactics that have never been employed," he continued.

"While Seyfullah's claims appear greater than reality, they cannot be entirely dismissed, nor can the potential for further transportation infrastructure attacks against China," Stratfor said in an analysis on its website.

TIP's video says the group is willing to use biological weapons in an attack, and Venzke said that specific threat cannot be discounted. But, he added, TIP so far lacks a "demonstrated capability" to use biological weapons.

IntelCenter said it had a video made by TIP showing how to wire a truck with a bomb and another showing a suicide bomber preparing for an attack.

Venzke also noted that senior Al-Qaeda figure Ayman al-Zawahiri has made reference several times to the Uighurs' fight for an East Turkestan homeland

"While not yet on the level of attention focused on places like Somalia, Sudan, Algeria and other major theaters, al-Zawahiri's references do firmly place the jihadi efforts in East Turkistan in the mix of important jihadi fronts," Venzke said.

http://www.libertytimes.com.tw/2008/new/jul/27/today-int1.htm
自由時報2008年7月27日

東突份子 揚言攻擊北京奧運
〔編譯魏國金／綜合二十六日外電報導〕維吾爾分離主義組織「突厥斯坦伊斯蘭黨」二十五日晚間透過網路，宣稱犯下包括五月間上海公車爆炸案等一連串攻擊事件，並揚言將在北京奧運期間，發動新一波的恐怖攻擊。不過上述說辭的真實性還有待商榷。

突厥斯坦伊斯蘭黨指揮官塞伊弗拉，在長達三分鐘的影帶中說：「我們的目標是鎖定與奧運最有關聯的關鍵點，我們將以未曾運用的計策，猛烈攻擊中國核心都市。」

宣稱犯下公車連環爆炸案

他並宣稱，其組織已從事數起攻擊行動，包括五月五日造成三死十二傷的上海公車爆炸案、十七日以裝滿爆裂物的拖拉機襲警的溫州爆炸案、七月廣州塑膠工廠爆炸事件，以及二十一日雲南昆明的三公車連環爆炸案。

各地警方聲明否認

對此，雲南昆明、上海、浙江溫州、廣東廣州警方二十六日均表示，當地發生的爆炸事件，與自稱「突厥斯坦伊斯蘭黨」（中國稱東突厥斯坦伊斯蘭黨，簡稱東突）的東突組織宣稱的恐怖襲擊無關。

新華社報導，雲南省警方表示，昆明公車爆炸案正在調查中，目前可以確定是人為破壞。溫州市公安局局長陳石春說該市龍灣區龍華村的爆炸案，與恐怖組織完全沒關係。廣東省公安廳澄清，七月十七日，廣州沒有發生恐怖組織所聲稱的襲擊事件。

研究維吾爾族的權威學者杜磊（Dru Gladney）質疑影帶的真實性。他指出，國際維安專家將突厥斯坦伊斯蘭黨與東突厥斯坦獨立運動組織（ＥＴＩＭ）關聯一起，中美兩國皆視兩集團為恐怖組織。

然而，ＥＴＩＭ已多年沒有運作，如果它仍存在，也沒有多少追隨者可以東山再起，杜磊補充，中國官方通常將所有追求維吾爾獨立的組織都貼上ＥＴＩＭ的標籤。

揚言還要使用生物武器

人權團體指控中國當局藉反恐之名，鎮壓新疆的維吾爾穆斯林。在紐西蘭訪問的美國國務卿萊絲二十六日呼籲中國，對奧運的維安關注不應成為鎮壓異己的「掩護」，「中國應向世人展現的不僅是奧運，還包括開放、寬容的態度。」

上月二十七日，塞伊弗拉發表聲明，列舉對中國政府的不滿，並呼籲對北京奧運展開攻擊，他說，自殺炸彈客已準備就緒，執行任務，「轟炸中國公署、軍營、機場、鐵路、外賓飯店、觀光景點與娛樂場所，放火吧，這次你們甚至允許使用生物武器」。