France Reveals ISIS-K Terrorists Responsible for Moscow Mass Shooting
ICARO Media Group
France has declared that the suspects accused of coordinating the mass shooting in Moscow last week belong to the ISIS branch known as Islamic State Khorasan (ISIS-K), which has been involved in several attempted terrorist attacks in the country, as stated by the French government. President Emmanuel Macron confirmed this information during a visit to French Guyana, emphasizing that the Afghan branch of ISIS has made multiple attempts within French territory. Prime Minister Gabriel Attal further revealed that France has thwarted two attempted attacks this year alone, with the group also planning attacks in other European nations.
Following ISIS's claim of responsibility for the devastating concert hall shooting in Moscow that resulted in the deaths of 133 people and left 147 injured, Russian authorities have raised serious concerns over the incident. In response, France has elevated its terror alert level to the highest possible, known as the "emergency attack" level. The French government has now announced bolstered security measures at sensitive locations, including schools, religious establishments, and transportation services.
Additionally, France has extended its cooperation with Russia to track down the culprits behind the horrific shooting incident. This move comes as France remains on high alert due to previous ISIS-linked attacks, such as the Bataclan concert attack in 2015 and the Bastille Day ramming attack in Nice in 2016. The country had already implemented stringent security measures in preparation for the Paris Olympics scheduled for this summer.
Concerns regarding the Moscow attack have also spread across neighboring countries. Italy has announced increased security checks and surveillance measures, with Serbian President Alexander Vucic instructing police officers to monitor sports events and malls. Meanwhile, Germany, which is set to host the European Championship this year, has yet to modify its security stance but acknowledges that the threat from ISIS-K remains acute.
ISIS-K has gained notoriety for claiming responsibility for numerous attacks worldwide. In January, the group announced its involvement in a bombing attack on a memorial dedicated to Qassem Soleimani, an Iranian commander killed by the United States in 2020. More recently, as the Biden administration withdrew from Afghanistan, ISIS-K launched a suicide bombing that took the lives of 13 U.S. soldiers and civilians. Western nations, including the UK, have expressed growing alarm over the resurgence of the ISIS-K threat.
While the Taliban has made some progress in countering ISIS-K, they continue to struggle in dismantling the group's clandestine urban cells and preventing attacks, according to the State Department. It is worth noting that last year, Germany and the Netherlands arrested an ISIS-K network consisting of individuals from Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Kyrgyzstan, who were planning an attack in Germany.
Despite ISIS losing its stronghold in Iraq and Syria, it has increasingly relied on regional branches, like ISIS-K, to orchestrate attacks against the West and Western interests. U.S. officials concur that ISIS's "regional affiliates will continue to expand," according to an intelligence community report. Although the U.S. intelligence community does not perceive a "credible threat" from ISIS to the United States presently, monitoring of the group's activities remains a top priority.
Global vigilance has heightened after the Biden administration issued a warning earlier this month about potential "imminent" extremist attacks on crowds in Moscow. The administration urged Americans to avoid large gatherings, prompting a dismissive response from Russian President Vladimir Putin, who accused the West of inciting chaos in Russia.
In a concerning twist, Moscow has accused the suspects of having ties to Ukraine, shifting blame onto Kyiv. This accusation has raised fears that Russia may exploit the shooting incident as a pretext to escalate the conflict in Ukraine. Ukrainian authorities have firmly denied any involvement in the attack.
As investigations continue, the international community remains on high alert, recognizing the urgent need to counter the growing threat posed by ISIS-K and its extremist activities.
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