View Al-Zawahri video

The deputy head of the al-Qaeda terrorist organisation threatened yesterday to punish Britain for rewarding Sir Salman Rushdie with a knighthood.

Ayman al-Zawahri, who acts as second-in-command to Osama bin Laden, said in an audio-taped message released on an Islamic website that a response was being prepared in retaliation for the honour.

Al-Zawahri said that the Queen had sent a clear message to Muslims by honouring a novelist who had insulted Islam [allegedly in his book The Satanic Verses]. He also appeared to make a direct reference to the failed bomb plots in London and Glasgow. In the past, al-Qaeda has indirectly claimed ownership for terrorist attacks.

In his taped message, al-Zawahri said yesterday: “I say to [Tony] Blair’s successor that the policy of your predecessor drew catastrophes in Afghanistan and Iraq and even in the centre of London.” He added in a message directed at Gordon Brown: “If you do not understand, listen, we are ready to repeat it for you.”

A spokesman for Downing Street said: “We do not intend to dignify this with a response. As the Prime Minister has said, we will not allow terrorists to undermine the British way of life.” The official added: “The British people will remain united, resolute and strong.”

The terrorist threat level has been lowered from “critical” to “severe” after the investigations into the London and Glasgow plots, but the police and security authorities remain on high alert for possible attacks.

The decision to give Sir Salman a knighthood caused anger among Muslims when it was announced. Ijaz ul-Haq, the Pakistani Minister for Religious Affairs, said in Islamabad that a suicide bomb attack would be a justified response to the knighthood. He also called for Muslim countries to break diplomatic ties with Britain.

However, after the veiled threat from al-Zawahri, the Foreign and Commonwealth Office hit back at al-Qaeda. “These terrorists care nothing for the peoples of the Middle East, Iraq and Afghanistan; al-Qaeda has been killing civilians of all faiths, including many fellow Muslims for years,” a spokesman said.

The official said that the award of a knighthood to the 60-year-old author was purely in recognition of his literary achievements. “The Government has already made it clear that Rushdie’s honour was not intended as an insult to Islam or the Prophet Muhammad,” the spokesman said.

He added: “It was a reflection of his contribution to literature throughout a long and distinguished career.”

In his latest message, al-Zawahri said that a “very precise response” was being prepared in answer to Sir Salman’s knighthood. His 20-minute address was entitled “malicious Britain and its Indian slaves”.

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