(Image source from: Yemen’s Al-Qaeda claims responsibility over attack on Charlie Hebdo })

Al Qaeda in Yemen claimed responsibility for the attack on French satirical newspaper Charlie Hebdo on January 7th, saying it was ordered by the Islamist militant group's leadership for denigrating the Prophet Mohammad, via a video message which was posted in youtube. 

"As for the blessed Battle of Paris, we, the organization of al Qaeda al Jihad in the Arabian Peninsula, claim responsibility for this operation as vengeance for the prophet Muhammad," said Nasser bin Ali al-Ansi, a leader of the Yemeni branch of al Qaeda (AQAP) in the recording. 

Kouachi brothers Said and Cherif carried out the Charlie Hebdo attack, which killed a total of 12 people in a satirical magazine office on January 7th. In Paris, terrorists killed total 17 people in 72 hours of violence that began when they opened fire at Charlie Hebdo in revenge for its past publication of satirical images of the Prophet. "Congratulations to you, the nation of Islam, for this revenge that has soothed our pain," his message means.

Nasr al-Ansi, the main ideologue for AQAP, said the "one who chose the target, laid the plan and financed the operation is the leadership of the organization", without naming an individual.

According to the media reports, Said spent time in Yemen in 2011, and Said trained for "a few months" on small arms with AQAP. CBS reported that Said Kouachi returned from Yemen in 2011 with $20,000 from AQAP to carry the operation in Paris.

But Al-Ansi produced no evidence to support his claims, raising doubts over the exact relationship between the attackers and the militant group's leadership in Yemen.

AW: Kannamsai