On 15 Sep. 2012, al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP) issued a written statement calling for the burning of US embassies and the killing of US ambassadors and envoys. The statement said, "the incident is a major one when the various efforts should collaborate in order to aim to expel the embassies of the United States from Muslim countries, to continue the demonstrations and protests as happened in some Muslim countries, and to set fire to these embassies as our zealous people did in Egypt and Yemen. Whoever, from among our Muslim brothers, captures US ambassadors or envoys, he may follow in the footsteps of the grandsons of Umar al-Mukhtar in Libya who set the best example by killing the US ambassador, may God reward them for their adherence to Islam. The step of expelling the embassies and consulates is a step toward liberating Muslim lands from US hegemony and arrogance."
No mention made of "spontaneity" or of evil films, but note the instruction "capture US ambassadors". |