By Xinhua
Tokyo : Al-Qaida founder Osama bin Laden used to consider doing some harm to Japan’s economy by attacking tankers heading to the country, Kyodo News reported Tuesday, quoting a former member of the terrorist group.
The former member told Kyodo’s correspondent in Egypt in a recent interview that bin Laden expressed the idea in late 2001 due to frustration with Japan’s decision to support the U.S.-led war on terror.
“Japan can’t stand any attack against its interests. We could destroy Japan’s economy. We could attack tankers headed to Japan,”the al-Qaida leader was quoted by the former member as telling a close aide when they were hiding in Tora Bora mountains of eastern Afghanistan.
The former member, a Saudi Arabian citizen who was one of bin Laden’s guards in Tora Bora mountains, said he was not aware of any specific plan, Kyodo said.