A Russian law enforcement officer walks at a parking area near the burning Crocus City Hall concert venue following a shooting incident, outside Moscow, Russia, March 22, 2024. REUTERS/Maxim Shemetov

Islamic State Claims Responsibility For Russia Attack

Posted by: Eninu William in world news March 23, 2024

Reuters news agency is reporting that Islamic State has claimed responsibility for the attack via its Telegram channel. The report has not been independently verified. The group, also known as ISIS, has carried out attacks in a number of countries, however, BBC security correspondent Gordon Corera notes that the group has at times in the past claimed responsibility for attacks that it had nothing to do with.

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.

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