U.S. Counterterrorism, the Soufan Group, and the Attack on the Telegram Channel by the Islamic State: Reuters’ Implications
Western intelligence agencies had collected intelligence about possible planning by ISIS-K to bomb the service. As in Russia, ISIS-K claimed responsibility for that attack.
The United States had warned Iran of a possible attack ahead of twin bombings in January that killed at least 103 people and wounded 211 others at a memorial service for Iran’s former top general, Qassim Suleimani, who was killed by a U.S. drone strike four years before.
In addition to publicly warning on March 7 about a possible attack, U.S. officials said they had privately told Russian officials about the intelligence pointing to an impending attack. The United States may have given additional information beyond what was stated in the public warning.
The attack on Friday in Moscow, like a January assault in Iran claimed by the group, could prompt a reassessment of its ability to strike outside its home territory.
Colin P. Clark from the Soufan Group said that the Islamic State has been attacking Russia for the last two years. The group accuses the Kremlin of having blood in its hands because of its actions in Chechnya and Afghanistan.
After a period of relative quiet, the Islamic State has been trying to increase its external attacks, according to U.S. counterterrorism officials. Most of those plots in Europe have been thwarted, prompting assessments that the group had diminished capabilities.
Reuters news agency is reporting that the Islamic State, also known as ISIS, is claiming responsibility for the attack on its Telegram channel. This claim has not been verified.
Russian hostage crisis at the Crocus City Hall: An apology to the Moscow government and to the U.S. ambassador to the Ukraine
Concertgoers had gathered at Moscow’s Crocus City Hall venue to see the veteran Russian rock band Picnic when several armed gunmen in military fatigues entered the premises.
The Ukrainians deny that there must be some Ukrainian role. The adviser to the Ukrainian president stated thatUkraine had no role in the shooting. It makes no sense whatsoever.”
John Kirby said the images of the shooting were horrible and hard to watch. The US embassy in Moscow has warned U.S. citizens to avoid the area.
Moscow was the scene of a hostage crisis at the Dubrovka theater in 2002, in which Chechen gunmen demanding the withdrawal of Russian troops from Chechnya took some 800 theatergoers hostage. 172 people died in a raid by Russian security forces to end the crisis.