Bin Laden associate: Death 'happy moment' for jihadists

bin Laden

Osama bin Laden's death is a "happy moment" for jihadists since the terror chieftain died in the manner he had long sought, according to exiled British extremist Omar Bakri Mohammad.

"We are so proud of Sheikh Osama bin Laden to die in this way," said Bakri, an associate of bin Laden.

Bakri was speaking today from exile in Beirut in an interview with "Aaron Klein Investigative Radio" of New York's 77WABC Radio. Klein doubles as WND's Jerusalem bureau chief.

While Bakri conceded he is sad at the loss of bin Laden, whom he called a "legend," the British extremist also deemed bin Laden's death a "happy moment."

"This is a happy moment, as well," Bakri told Klein. "Because Sheikh Osama bin Laden always sought to become a martyr and to be killed as a martyr by the enemy. And may Allah accept him as a martyr. It happened, just as he was seeking."

"At least he never bowed his head to the Americans," added Bakri. "He never has been arrested or humiliated the way (many other great Islamic figures have been arrested)."

Bakri claimed American celebration at the news of bin Laden's elimination was really a façade to disguise the country's frustration at the al-Qaida leader's successes.

Stated Bakri: "Obviously you have a right to enjoy and to celebrate, to hide the bitterness and the hardship that you faced from Sheikh bin Laden. We understand that."

"I think the U.S. military is facing stagnation in Afghanistan and Iraq because of the operations of Sheikh bin Laden."

Bakri also credited bin Laden with the U.S. economic crisis, saying it was caused by the cost of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, which, he said, the U.S. is losing "because of the operations of Sheikh bin Laden."

Bakri is the founder of Al Muhajiroun, a disbanded British extremist group that called for an Islamic state to be imposed in Europe and the U.S. The group was openly allied with al-Qaida's ideology.

He was also spiritual leader of the UK's Hizb ut-Tahrir, an international pan-Islamic group whose goal is for all Muslim countries to unify as an Islamic state ruled by Islamic law and with a caliph head of state elected by Muslims.

Bakri left the U.K. following the July 2005 London bombings when the country's Times newspaper reported that "a dozen members" of Al-Muhajiroun "have taken part in suicide bombings or have become close to al-Qaida and its support network."

Shortly thereafter, Mohammad was told by the British government he could not return.

Bakri has boasted on many occasions of communicating with bin Laden. He once invited the al-Qaida chief to address a rally by satellite in London, but ultimately the gathering was canceled.

Roland Jacquard, an expert on Islamic terrorism, said that "every al-Qaida operative recently arrested or identified in Europe had come into contact with Bakri at some time or other."