ISIS claims responsibility for deadly attack near Moscow, US backs claims
4:23 AM EDT, March 23, 2024
The Islamic State (ISIS) has claimed responsibility for the attack on Crocus City Hall in Krasnogorsk, near Moscow. However, this information cannot be independently confirmed. An American official, speaking to CBS News, mentioned that the USA has no reason "to doubt the claims made by ISIS".
An armed attack targeted the concert hall Crocus City Hall in Krasnogorsk near Moscow on Friday, resulting in numerous casualties and injuries, including children.
In a statement released on social media, ISIS announced that it was behind the assault, stating their target was a large gathering of Christians in Krasnogorsk, on the outskirts of the Russian capital. The group claimed to have killed and injured hundreds, but these claims remain unverified for now.
"We have no reason to doubt"
An American official, in dialogue with CBS News, asserted that the United States possesses intelligence that supports ISIS's claim of responsibility for the attack, concluding that "they have no reason to doubt these claims."
Americans issued a warning to Russia
The same official confirmed that the United States had shared intelligence with Russia regarding the potential threat, which was in line with the intelligence community's protocol for issuing warnings about such events.
The Washington Post, reflecting on the Crocus City Hall incident, referenced recent intelligence that suggests that the ISIS-K branch, operating in Afghanistan, Pakistan, and Iran, has begun operations in Russia.
On March 7, the US embassy in Moscow announced that it "is monitoring reports that extremists have imminent plans to target large gatherings" in Moscow, including concerts, advising US citizens to steer clear of such events.
This advisory, according to officials who remained anonymous, was partly based on intelligence concerning possible ISIS-K activities in Russia.
Source: CBS News, washingtonpost.com
