Yesterday’s attack in Moscow, which resulted in the loss of more 90 lives – a figure expected to rise – and left around 100 others injured, has been claimed by a branch of the Islamic State.
Shortly after the attack, U.S. officials confirmed the claim made by the branch of the Islamic State, known as ISIS-K.
According to officials, the United States had gathered intelligence in March indicating that ISIS-K, the Afghanistan-based branch of the Islamic State, had been plotting an attack on Moscow.
It has been noted that members of ISIS have been active within Russia, as stated by a U.S. official.
Following a period of relative calm, U.S. counterterrorism officials have observed an uptick in the Islamic State’s efforts to carry out attacks beyond its usual operational zones.
While most plots in Europe have been thwarted, these attempts indicate a resurgence of the group’s external aggression.
Colin P. Clarke, a counterterrorism analyst at the Soufan Group, emphasized that ISIS-K has focused its attention on Russia for the past two years.
The group frequently denounces President Vladimir V. Putin in its propaganda, accusing the Kremlin of involvement in conflicts in Afghanistan, Chechnya, and Syria, alleging harm to Muslim populations.
The attack in Moscow, reminiscent of a January assault in Iran claimed by the same group, raises questions about the Islamic State’s capacity to strike outside its core territory.
In March, the United States publicly issued a warning regarding a potential attack.
Additionally, U.S. officials informed Russian counterparts privately about intelligence suggesting an imminent threat. However, the extent of information shared beyond the public warning remains unclear.
It is customary for American intelligence agencies to notify potential targets of impending threats, adhering to their “duty to warn” principle.
A similar scenario occurred in Iran earlier in January, where Western intelligence agencies had forewarned of possible ISIS-K attacks during a memorial service for Iran’s former top general, Qassim Suleimani, who was killed in a U.S. drone strike four years prior. Despite these warnings, the bombings claimed by ISIS-K resulted in significant casualties.
Overall, these incidents underscore the ongoing challenges posed by extremist groups like ISIS-K and the critical role of international intelligence cooperation in mitigating such threats.
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Read also: US Embassy Warns of Imminent Attack in Moscow by Islamic State Terrorists
The warning, echoed by the British embassy in Moscow, came shortly after Russia’s Federal Security Service (FSB) announced that it had thwarted an attempted attack on a synagogue in Moscow.
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________
