Bin Laden claims responsibility for Christmas plane bombing attempt

CAIRO, Jan. 24 (Xinhua) -- Al-Qaida leader claimed responsibility for a foiled attempt of bombing a U.S.-bound airplane on Dec. 25, and vowed further attacks against the United States, in an audio recording aired Sunday by pan-Arab al-Jazeera TV.

Al-Qaeda chief Osama bin Laden has claimed responsibility for the botched Christmas Day bombing of a US airliner and said strikes on US targets will continue, in an audio statement broadcast on Al-Jazeera satellite television. (Xinhua/AFP File Photo)

"From Osama to Obama  If our messages would possibly be carried to you by words, we would not have carried them to you by planes," Osama bin Laden said in the tape.

The U.S. foiled an attempt by Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab, a 23- year-old Nigerian, who tried to blow up on Christmas Day a U.S. airliner from Amsterdam to Detroit.

"And the message meant to be conveyed to you through the plane of heroic mujahid Umar Farouk (Abdulmutallab) is a confirmation of a previous message delivered to you by the heroes of the Sept. 11 attack," he said.

"America will never dream of security until we experience it in reality in Palestine," he added, "It is not fair that you enjoy good living conditions while our brothers in Gaza suffer the worst living conditions."

"Thus, our raids against you will continue as long as your support for the Israelis continues," he threatened.

The audio tape is the first appearance of the al-Qaida chief since Sept. 25, 2009 when he urged, in a similar recording, European nations to pull their troops out of Afghanistan.

Last year, the U.S. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) Director Leon Panetta said that bin Laden remains in Pakistan and his capture is still the CIA's priority.