The Islamic Jihad Group (IJG) is a violent terrorist organization responsible for several high-profile bombings in Uzbekistan.  Islamic Jihad Group is a splinter organization from the Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan (IMU), another terror group operating in Central Asia.<P><br /><br />The IJG was previously unknown until April 2004 when the group claimed responsibility for a series of suicide bombings around Tashkent and Bukhara, which killed 47 people.  The attacks targeted local government offices, as well as a crowded market.  Although IJG released a statement claiming responsibility for the bombings, officials doubted the existence of the unknown group, and blamed other extremist organizations.<P><br /><br />On July 30, 2004, IJG carried out simultaneous bombing attacks on the US Embassy, the Israeli Embassy, and the Uzbek Prosecutor General, killing at least two people and wounding several.  The attacks were highly sophisticated, and they cemented IJG's status as a real terrorist threat in Central Asia.  In their claim of responsibility, the IJG wrote: <p> <i>"A group of young Muslims executed martyrdom operations that put fear in the apostate government and its infidel allies, the Americans and Jews.   The mujahidin belonging to Islamic Jihad Group attacked both the American and Israeli embassies as well as the court building where the trials of a large number of the brothers from the Group had begun. These martyrdom operations that the group is executing will not stop, God willing.   It is for the purpose of repelling the injustice of the apostate government and supporting the jihad of our Muslim brothers in Iraq, Palestine, Afghanistan, the Hijaz, and in other Muslim countries ruled by infidels and apostates."  <P> </i><br /><br />Although IJG has not publicly elucidated their goals and philosophy, from their background and statements it is clear that they are deeply opposed to the current authoritarian-secular rule in Uzbekistan, and wish to set up an Islamic state in its place.  Besides being closely linked with IMU, many officials speculate that IJG has close ties to al-Qaeda given the sophisticated nature of their attacks and targets.<br />