The M Star oil tanker is seen in the sea near Japan in this December 2008 handout photograph released on July 28, 2010 by the ship's owners Mitsui O.S.K. Lines Ltd. The oil tanker damaged in an explosion in the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world's most important shipping lanes, was being diverted to a port in the UAE on July 28, 2010.(Xinhua/Reuters Photo)Al Qaeda-Linked Group Claims Gulf Tanker Attack -- Wall Street Journal
ABU DHABI—An Islamic militant group affiliated with al Qaeda claimed responsibility for an attack on a Japanese-owned oil tanker while it traveled through the Strait of Hormuz last week, raising fresh worry about the vulnerability of the world's delicate oil-supply routes.
In a statement posted to a militant website, the Abdullah Azzam Brigade said they targeted the supertanker M. Star in what they hoped would be a dramatic blow to the global economy and oil markets.
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More News On This Al Qaeda Claim Of Attacking An Oil tanker In The Gulf
Doubts as Qaeda group claims Japan tanker blast -- Yahoo News/Reuters
Group claims attack on Japanese oil tanker -- Financial Times
Al-Qaida group claims link to tanker plot -- UPI
Al-Qaida-linked group claims tanker attack in Gulf -- AP
Qaeda linked group claims attack on Japan tanker -- Reuters
Militants claim suicide bomb attack on Japan tanker -- AFP
Al-Qaeda-Linked "'Abdallah 'Azzam Brigades" Claim to Have Attacked Japanese Tanker -- Memri
FACTBOX-Who are the Abdullah Azzam Brigades? -- Reuters
Q+A-Could Qaeda group have damaged Japan tanker? -- Reuters
2 comments:
I tend to be skeptical of claims of this sort, but I'm inclined to believe this one. The damage didn't seem at all consistent with a collision because of the lack of scrape marks or highly angular denting. Also, the way the skin of the vessel was smoothly deformed inward against the framing over a large area suggested an explosion.
The crew reported seeing a bright flash and hearing a loud explosion, so the idea that it was an explosion shouldn't be regarded as being far-fetched.
What I couldn't figure out is what type of explosion it was. The damage seemed too high up to be a near-miss with a sea mine, and a missile would have easily penetrated the thin skin of the tanker. A USS-Cole-style attack by a small boat laden with explosives fits the damage seen in the photos.
Thanks Pokey for your comment.
I tend to agree .... an explosion not far from the boat is what probably caused the dent that is now visible.
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