All posts tagged: Islamic State

France Raises Security Readiness to Highest Level After Attack in Russia

France Raises Security Readiness to Highest Level After Attack in Russia

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PARIS —  France’s government increased its security alert posture to the highest level Sunday after the deadly attack at a Russian concert hall and the Islamic State’s claim of responsibility. French Prime Minister Gabriel Attal announced the decision in a post on X, formerly Twitter, saying authorities were “taking into account the Islamic State’s claim of responsibility for the (Moscow) attack and the threats weighing on our country.” The announcement came after President Emmanuel Macron held an emergency security meeting prompted by Friday’s attack in a Moscow suburb that killed more than 130 people. The attack was claimed by an affiliate of the Islamic State group. France has repeatedly been hit by deadly Islamic State attacks, including the Bataclan theater massacre in 2015 in which extremists opened fire on concertgoers and held hostages for hours. French troops have also fought against Islamic extremists in the Middle East and Africa. France was already on high security alert ahead of the Paris Olympics and Paralympics this year, which are expected to draw millions of visitors to the …

Ukraine had ‘no involvement’ in Moscow attack: White House

Ukraine had ‘no involvement’ in Moscow attack: White House

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WASHINGTON: Ukraine had “no involvement whatsoever” in the massacre in a Moscow concert hall that killed more than 130 people, the White House said Sunday (Mar 23), after Russian President Vladimir Putin suggested a Kyiv connection. “ISIS bears sole responsibility for this attack. There was no Ukrainian involvement whatsoever,” said White House National Security Council spokeswoman Adrienne Watson, using an acronym for the Islamic State group, which has claimed the attack. There was “no” evidence that Ukraine was involved, agreed Vice President Kamala Harris in an interview with ABC News’ “This Week” that was aired Sunday. “ISIS-K is actually, by all accounts, responsible for what happened,” she said. The “K” refers to Khorasan, with the attack being claimed by the Islamic State’s branch in Afghanistan and Pakistan. At least 137 people were killed when camouflaged gunmen stormed the Crocus City Hall, in Moscow’s northern suburb of Krasnogorsk, and then set fire to the building on Friday evening. The Islamic State group on Saturday wrote on Telegram that the attack was “carried out by four IS …

Jeremy Hunt wans UK must be ‘on our guard’ and ‘vigilant’ after Russia massacre | Politics | News

Jeremy Hunt wans UK must be ‘on our guard’ and ‘vigilant’ after Russia massacre | Politics | News

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Jeremy Hunt has warned the UK must be “on our guard” and “vigilant” following a terror attack in Russia that left 133 people dead. The Chancellor said the UK should “absolutely” be concerned about the threat of Islamic State following the massacre at a concert hall in Moscow. Asked if the rest of Europe – including the UK – should be “concerned” in the wake of Friday’s events, Mr Hunt said: “Absolutely. We are very lucky in this country that we have incredibly impressive intelligence agencies who have been successful in stopping, in foiling, a lot of terrorist threats over recent years. “But we have to remain vigilant – and, you know, if it is Islamic State, they are utterly indiscriminate in what they do, they are prepared to murder in the most horrific way.” Asked if there was a chance of the UK’s threat level being raised, Mr Hunt said this was decided by a “special system” in government, and said he was not privy to their discussions. The UK’s threat level is currently …

What is ISIS-K, the group that attacked a Moscow concert hall?

What is ISIS-K, the group that attacked a Moscow concert hall?

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The United States has said its ability to develop intelligence against extremist groups in Afghanistan such as ISIS-K has been reduced since the withdrawal of US troops from the country in 2021. The US military has said it can see the “broad contours” of an impending attack, but does not have the specific detail it did previously. WHAT ATTACKS HAS THE GROUP CARRIED OUT? ISIS-K has a history of attacks, including against mosques, inside and outside Afghanistan. Earlier this year, the US intercepted communications confirming the group carried out twin bombings in Iran that killed nearly 100 people. In September 2022, ISIS-K militants claimed responsibility for a deadly suicide bombing at the Russian embassy in Kabul. The group was also responsible for an attack on Kabul’s international airport in 2021 that killed 13 US troops and scores of civilians during the chaotic US evacuation from the country. According to a January UN report, the Taliban’s efforts to defeat the group have led to a fall in the number of attacks within Afghanistan. Bombings have not stopped, however. Source link

Security experts say Islamic State claim for Russian concert attack is credible

Security experts say Islamic State claim for Russian concert attack is credible

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LONDON: A claim of responsibility by Islamic State for a massacre of Russian concertgoers near Moscow appears to be plausible and fits with a pattern of previous marauding attacks by militants, security analysts said on Saturday (Mar 23). One leading expert said, however, it was unusual and striking that the assailants had formed and executed an escape plan instead of pursuing their rampage to the point of being gunned down. Islamic State, also known as IS or ISIS, issued statements claiming responsibility for Friday evening’s attack in which Russian investigators said 133 people were killed, and published a photograph of the alleged gunmen. Russia has not said who it believes was behind the mass shooting, but has stated, without providing evidence, that the perpetrators had contacts in Ukraine. It said the gunmen fled by car and were captured hours later near the Ukrainian border. Ukraine, defending against Russia’s invasion since 2022, has emphatically denied any involvement. Adam Dolnik, a Czech security expert who has studied past Islamist attacks in India, Kenya, Russia and elsewhere, said the Islamic State claim appeared …

Islamic State attackers publish selfie following Moscow attack

Islamic State attackers publish selfie following Moscow attack

Published by Sam

The four men wear black baseball caps and as they point to the sky in a gesture relating to belief in one god – UNPIXS Islamic State published a photo of the four attackers it said had “dealt a strong blow to Russia with a bloody attack” on Saturday, in a post detailing how it planned and conducted the assault on a Moscow concert hall that claimed more than 130 lives. In the picture, which was released on Islamic State’s official news agency Amaq, the four men are wearing black baseball caps and face scarfs and are pointing to the sky with one finger. The gesture has become associated with Islamic State and refers to the Muslim belief that there is only one god. In the background is an Islamic State poster with the group’s name in black and white. The men carried out “an intensive monitoring operation” before the attack, according to the statement. They were armed with machine guns, knives and bombs and sought to inflict as much damage as possible on the …

The Long, Twisted History of Russia and ISIS

The Long, Twisted History of Russia and ISIS

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The fault lines in Russian society have foretold yesterday’s atrocity for literally centuries. Stringer / AFP / Getty March 23, 2024, 12:23 PM ET A decade ago, when foreign fighters were flowing into Syria, the Islamic State’s capital, Raqqa, became a sort of Epcot of global jihad: New arrivals from different nations clustered together in their national groups. If you were a recent arrival from France or just wanted to know where to get a croissant, you could visit a café full of French people and ask. Tens of thousands of foreign fighters came from places as distant as Chile and Japan. Russia alone contributed as many as 4,000, according to President Vladimir Putin, and by all accounts, their cluster focused not on pastry but on warfare. The only countries that put up numbers to rival Russia’s were Tunisia and Turkey. Yesterday, terrorists murdered at least 133 concertgoers in suburban Moscow. The Islamic State’s news agency, Amaq, posted the group’s claim of responsibility, as usual in language balanced between wire-service precision and rabid derangement. The …

Singapore condemns Moscow concert hall attack, urges citizens to defer non-essential travel to Russia

Singapore condemns Moscow concert hall attack, urges citizens to defer non-essential travel to Russia

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Singapore joins countries around the world in denouncing the deadly Moscow attack. United Nations secretary-general Antonio Guterres on Friday condemned “in the strongest possible terms today’s terrorist attack”, spokesman Farhan Haq said in a statement. The White House sent its condolences to the victims of the “terrible” shooting. “The images are just horrible and just hard to watch,” National Security Council spokesman John Kirby told reporters.  Chinese President Xi Jinping “strongly condemned” the attack and sent his condolences to Russian President Vladimir Putin. Xi “stressed that China opposes all forms of terrorism, strongly condemns the terrorist attack and firmly supports the Russian government’s efforts to safeguard its national security and stability”, Xinhua news agency said. Singaporeans in Russia who require consular assistance should contact: Singapore Embassy in MoscowTel: +7 499 241 37 02 during office hours, or the 24-hour emergency hotline +7 906 009 00 69 Ministry of Foreign Affairs Duty Office (24-hours)Telephone: +65 6379 8800 / +65 6379 8855Fax: +65 6476 7302 Source link

US Pledges Additional M to Fight Terrorism in Mozambique

US Pledges Additional $22M to Fight Terrorism in Mozambique

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Maputo, Mozambique —  U.S. officials pledged $22 million in new funding Thursday to help Mozambique fight Islamist militants in the country’s troubled, oil-rich Cabo Delgado, where an insurgency has intensified in recent weeks. The United States already had pledged $100 million. At the end of a five-day visit to Maputo, Anne Witkowsky, U.S. assistant secretary of state for conflict and stabilization operations, said the funding aims to help Mozambique with stabilizing and peacebuilding efforts in its northern provinces. Calling security in north Mozambique critical, Witkowsky told VOA that the U.S.-financed programs provide training for local government officials to deliver services; promote social cohesion through peace clubs, sports and the arts; and increase educational and employment opportunities for youth. “Mozambique is a priority partner country under our strategy to prevent conflict and promote stability,” she said. “So, the U.S. supports a Mozambique that is more prosperous, more secure, more resilient and more democratic for all.” Since 2017, Mozambique’s province of Cabo Delgado has faced an armed insurgency, with some attacks claimed by an extremist group calling …

Churches burned and children ‘seized’ as militants target Christians

Churches burned and children ‘seized’ as militants target Christians

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The attack was the security forces’ heaviest loss of life since the March 2021 attack on Palma. There have been other attacks in Chiure, where several churches were burned, as well as in Macomia, Meluco and Quissanga. Islamic State supporters have hailed the offensive, saying it is part of a wider international push by the group called the “kill them wherever you find them” campaign. However, analysts say the insurgency is only loosely linked to Islamic State, with the militants driven by local grievances, but taking on the mantle of the notorious group to spread fear and lend their attacks greater publicity. Borges Nhamirre, a researcher with the Institute of Security Studies, said the insurgents were rising up against neglect, poor governance and discrimination against Muslims. Since Mozambique gained independence from Portugal in 1975, it has been governed by Frelimo, otherwise known as Frente de Libertação de Moçambique, a democratic socialist political party. “The militants have rebelled against poor governance by Frelimo over a long period,” said Nhamirre. Muslims, who make up about 17 per …