Wimbledon, English Premier League and FA Cup matches to be targeted by Al-Qaida

Wembley stadium, the venue for the FA Cup final, and Wimbledon, are reportedly being targeted by Al-Qaida

Jihadists returning from Syria to the United Kingdom have reportedly been asked to target Britain’s most important citizen – the Queen, as well as the country’s premier sporting events Wimbledon, the English Premier League, the FA Cup and horse races at Cheltenham.

A list of possible targets across Britain, France and America have been outlined in an English publication produced by Al-Qaida.

“Lone wolf” jihadists have been urged by terror outfit Al-Qaida to carry out bomb attacks at major sporting events and specially the ones attended by the Queen.

The group has called for ‘maximum carnage’ by targeting the tennis fortnight at Wimbledon and the FA Cup football matches. The publication also advocates that such operations be carried out either by a “martyrdom bomber” or with explosives linked to a timer or a remote device.

The outfit has asked the jihadists to “hit two birds with one stone; both the English and the French. In the beginning of summer we have Cheltenham, and at the end of summer we have Epsom, whereby horse races are attended by thousands from around the kingdom including the Queen.”

The author of the mouthpiece, who styles himself as ‘AQ Chef’, adds, “You have soccer stadiums, especially during Premier League and FA Cup matches. They have worldwide live media coverage. The best time is after the final whistle, when huge crowds leave the stadium and celebrate around the entrances.”

Published on March 14th, the magazine also encourages readers to build their own car bombs and detonate them outside the hotels. The magazine even provides detailed instructions on how to assemble such a bomb.

Around 240 British soldiers are believed to have been engaged in Syria and around 200 jihadists are rumoured to have returned to the UK after fighting in Syria.

British Muslims who have travelled to war-torn Syria to join extremists are being stripped of their citizenship. In 2013 itself, the British home minister has revoked the citizenship of 20 people.

Britain’s foreign minister William Hague recently told parliament that Syria is now the “number one destination for jihadists anywhere in the world” including “70 to 100 individuals connected with the United Kingdom”.

“The conflict is creating opportunities for extremist groups,” Hague said.