according to this Washington Post article.

An Islamic extremist group apparently affiliated with al Qaeda claimed credit for the two crashes Friday on an Internet site, claiming that it had helped hijack the planes and destroy them in retaliation for Russia's continuing war in the separatist Muslim region of Chechnya.

The authenticity of the claim could not be determined by officials. It was signed in the name of the Islambouli Brigades, which claimed in a statement that five militants were on board each of the two flights.

The statement, translated from Arabic, said that five militants were on board each of the two flights: "We in the Islambouli Brigades announce that our mujahedeen were able to hijack two Russian planes," it said. "The mujahedeen succeeded despite the problems they faced at the beginning." The statement did not explain what problems were encountered at the beginning.

"Russia continues to slaughter the Muslims," the statement said, "and will not stop unless a war starts where there will be bloodshed. Our mujahedeen, thanks to God, were able to make the first strike, which will be followed by a series of other operations in a wave of support to our brothers, the Muslims in Chechnya, and other Muslim areas that suffer the blasphemy of Russia."

A group with the same name affiliated with al Qaeda claimed responsibility for a failed assassination attempt against Pakistan's prime minister-designate in July.


Let's take them at their word and stomp them into the dirt. Anyone who claims "credit" for mass murder is a sick puppy.