New York: A chilling poster from the Islamic State (IS) has surfaced on social media, signaling a renewed threat against Russia. This revelation follows closely on the heels of the group’s admission to orchestrating an assault on Moscow’s concert center. The ominous poster, brought to light by Iranian media and associated with IS-Khorasan’s propaganda network, Al Azaim, features a masked figure brandishing a knife alongside a menacing message directed at Russia, specifically targeting Vladimir Putin, as per a report by Newsweek.
Established in Afghanistan in late 2014, IS-Khorasan has unabashedly claimed responsibility for the horrific attack on Moscow’s Crocus Center, resulting in a staggering death toll of at least 137 individuals. In the aftermath of this tragedy, four Tajik nationals faced terrorism charges, all of whom confessed their guilt, as reported by the TASS news agency.
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The Attack
Four assailants, armed with Kalashnikov rifles, infiltrated the Crocus City Hall at around 6:54 p.m. local time. The onslaught commenced approximately an hour later, at 7:58 p.m., according to authorities’ records.
Approaching the venue’s metal detectors with an eerie calmness, the attackers unleashed a hail of bullets from their firearms, targeting civilians at close range. The ensuing pandemonium saw victims succumbing amidst the relentless gunfire.
Authenticated footage later revealed a frenzied rush of attendees attempting to flee as the echoes of gunfire and screams reverberated throughout the hall. Methodically, the gunmen traversed the premises, executing targeted shootings at the attendees.
Utilizing Kalashnikov “AK-74” rifles, the perpetrators left behind over 500 spent cartridges at the scene. Following their shooting spree, they resorted to arson, igniting parts of the premises with gasoline. Departing at 8:11 p.m., they collided with a vehicle transporting a family, including two children.
Crocus City Hall, renowned for hosting up to 6,200 guests, has showcased performances by internationally acclaimed artists such as the Scorpions, Elton John, and Vanessa Mae. Notably, in 2013, Donald Trump attended the “Miss Universe” pageant held at the venue.
Claim of Responsibility
The Islamic State, once predominant in vast swathes of Iraq and Syria, proclaimed its involvement in the tragic event through its Amaq news outlet on Telegram, approximately four hours after the commencement of the shooting.
Subsequently, the Islamic State disseminated video evidence of the assault. Reuters authenticated the footage by matching interior details with existing records and imagery of the location.
The United States has acknowledged that its intelligence corroborates the Islamic State’s claim regarding the concert shooting near Moscow, as confirmed by two American officials.
Adrienne Watson, a spokesperson for the US National Security Council, revealed that the US had previously alerted Russian authorities about a potential impending attack in Moscow. This intelligence prompted a cautionary notice from the US embassy in Moscow regarding potential extremist activities in the vicinity.
Prior to this alert, the Federal Security Service (FSB) of Russia had announced thwarting a plot by Isis-Khorasan, an Islamic State offshoot active in Afghanistan and neighboring regions, targeting a Moscow synagogue.
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Russian Response
In a national address, President Vladimir Putin disclosed that the apprehended assailants were en route to Ukraine. He expressed skepticism regarding US claims attributing the assault to the Islamic State.
During a subsequent meeting, Putin attributed the attack to “radical Islamists,” challenging the narrative that solely associates it with the Islamic State. He emphasized the historical struggle of the Muslim world against radical ideologies and demanded clarity on the masterminds behind the atrocity.
Putin underscored the assault’s intent to instill fear and potentially divert attention amidst Russian advancements in Ukraine, hinting at possible motives linked to the ongoing conflict with Kyiv.
