US says ISIS was responsible for deadly attack on Moscow concert hall

An Islamic State branch claimed responsibility on Friday for the attack in Moscow that killed at least 40 people and injured around 100 others. US officials confirmed the claim shortly afterwards.

The United States gathered intelligence in March that Islamic State-Khorasan, known as ISIS-K, the group’s branch based in Afghanistan, had planned an attack on Moscow, according to officials. ISIS members have been active in Russia, a US official said.

After a period of relative calm, the Islamic State is seeking to increase its external attacks, U.S. counterterrorism officials said. Most of these plots in Europe have been foiled, leading to the conclusion that the group had reduced capabilities.

“ISIS-K has been fixated on Russia for the past two years,” regularly criticizing President Vladimir V. Putin in its propaganda, said Colin P. Clarke, a counterterrorism analyst at the Soufan Group, a security consultancy based in New York. “ISIS-K accuses the Kremlin of running Muslim blood, citing Moscow’s interventions in Afghanistan, Chechnya and Syria.”

Friday’s attack in Moscow, like an attack in Iran in January claimed by the group, could prompt a reassessment of its ability to strike outside its home turf.

In addition to the March 7 public warning of a possible attack, U.S. officials said they had privately briefed Russian officials about the intelligence indicating an impending attack. It is not clear how much information the United States gave to Russian officials, beyond what was in the public warning.

US intelligence agencies have a ‘duty to warn potential targets’ of dangers when they become aware of them.

The United States had warned Iran of a possible attack ahead of twin bombings in January that killed at least 103 people and injured 211 others at a memorial service for former top Iranian general Qassim Suleimani, who was killed by a gunfire four years earlier US drone strike. .

Western intelligence services had gathered intelligence about possible plans by ISIS-K to bomb the agency. As in Russia, ISIS-K claimed responsibility for that attack.