On 7 March, Russia’s Federal Security Service (FSB) said it prevented an attack on a synagogue in Moscow that was being planned by an Islamic State cell. The FSB said attackers opened fire during the attempted arrest and were “neutralized by return fire”. However, there are no other details given about the alleged plot.
The statement from the so-called Islamic State (IS) saying they were behind the attack came out on one of the group’s official accounts. That is not absolute confirmation – sometimes IS has issued false claims. However, a US official has told CBS, the BBC’s US partner, that it has intelligence confirming the IS claim that it carried out the attack.
The nature of the assault – marauding gunmen killing as many civilians as possible – is typical of the way they operate. There are similarities, for instance, to the Bataclan attacks at a concert in Paris back in 2015.
The question of who was behind today’s attack is highly charged because of the international context.
Ukrainian officials – and their allies – are clearly worried Kyiv might be blamed by Moscow. There is also the question of the US warning on 7 March about “extremists” attacking concerts. That public warning – based almost certainly on intelligence – appears to have been dismissed by Russian officials.
While there are always questions about who was behind an attack. And if it could have been prevented, this time the pressure on Moscow may be more intense to see what they say and how they respond. The latest information is that the attackers got away, possibly in a white car. The search is on to find them and to find out who they are.
Check Also;
- Senior Islamic State Figure Killed In Somalia Raid
- Understanding The Narrative: Insights Into Vladimir Putin’s Re-Election As Portrayed In Russian Media
- Hamas Likely Raped Women On 7 October; UN Report
Please use the button below to contribute to Newslex Point, Inc. using a credit card or via PayPal.