Nairobi August 7. 1998 Kenya
A bomb exploded at the rear entrance of the US Embassy in Nairobi, killing
12 US citizens, 32 Foreign Service Nationals and 247 Kenyan citizens. Aproxmately
5000 Kenyans, six citizens, and 13 FSNs were injured.
The Embassy building susstained extensive structural damages. The Goverment
is holding Usama Bin Ladin responsible.
Almost simultaneously a bomb detonated outside the US Embassy in Dar es Samaam,
killing seven FSNs, three Tanzanian, citizens, injuring one US citizens and
76 Tanzanians. The explosion caused major structural damage to the US Embassy
facility. US Goverment holds Usama Bin Ladin responsible.
Al-Qa'ida is multi-national, with members from numerous countries and with
a worldwide presence. Senior leaders in the organization are also senior leaders
in other terrorist organizations, including those designated by the Department
of State as foreign terrorist organizations, such as the Egyptian al-Gama'at
al-Islamiyya and the Egyptian al-Jihad. Al-Qa'ida seeks a global radicalization
of existing Islamic groups and the creation of radical Islamic groups where
none exist.
Al-Qa'ida supports Muslim fighters in Afghanistan, Bosnia, Chechnya, Tajikistan,
Somalia, Yemen, and Kosovo. It also trains members of terrorist organizations
from such diverse countries as the Philippines, Algeria, and Eritrea.
Al-Qa'ida's goal is to "unite all Muslims and to establish a government
which follows the rule of the Caliphs." Bin Laden has stated that the
only way to establish the Caliphate is by force. Al-Qa'ida's goal, therefore,
is to overthrow nearly all Muslim governments, which are viewed as corrupt,
to drive Western influence from those countries, and eventually to abolish
state boundaries.
