CNN national security analyst
Peter Bergen told host
Jake Tapper on Monday that the explosions in Boston could be the work of Al Qaeda terrorists as much as they could be part of a planned assault by “right-wing extremists.” Bergen said he was reminded of the Oklahoma City bombing, and that terrorism on the right could not be ruled out.
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Tapper asked Bergen if he thought there was a terrorist element behind the attack, to which Bergen replied that this event reminded of the 1995 attack on a federal building in Oklahoma City.
Bergen said that a hydrogen peroxide device would signal that foreign-based terrorist groups are behind the attack. However, if there was another explosive used that may single “right-wing extremists” were involved.
“We’ve seen a number of failed bombing attempts by Al Qaeda,” Bergen cautioned, “but we’ve also seen other extremist groups. Right-wing groups trying to attacking, for instance – trying to attack the
Martin Luther King parade in Oregon in 2010.”
“So, if it is a device of some kind, you know, we shouldn’t leap to conclusion about where it’s coming from,” Bergen concluded. He said that he thinks that a hydrogen peroxide bomb was more likely, signaling that Bergen believes that a foreign-based terror group is behind this.