The Kremlin Challenges US Assertion that ISIS Affiliate was Responsible for Moscow Terror Attack
Russian officials, including President Putin, seem determined to blame Kyiv and its powerful Western ally for recent events.
Moscow is disputing Washington’s assertion that a faction of the “Islamic State” (ISIS) terrorist group was responsible for the recent deadly attack in Moscow, which resulted in the deaths of numerous Russian concertgoers.
On March 25, Maria Zakharova, a spokeswoman for Russia’s foreign ministry, questioned the White House’s claim, asking if they were certain it was ISIS or if their stance might change later.
Zakharova suggested that Washington was trying to divert attention from its own involvement and that of its allies in Kyiv by placing blame on the notorious terrorist organization.
She criticized American officials for painting themselves into a corner with claims that ISIS orchestrated the attack.
Four armed individuals entered Moscow’s Crocus City Hall on March 23, firing upon attendees at a music concert.
The attack resulted in at least 137 fatalities, including children, and over 180 injuries, marking it as Russia’s deadliest terrorist incident in two decades.
Russian authorities have apprehended 11 individuals, including the suspected gunmen, in connection with the attack, some of whom were intercepted while trying to reach the Ukrainian border.
Accusations from Russian officials quickly pointed fingers at Ukraine, which has been under Russian invasion since early 2022, but Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy vehemently denied any involvement.
Within hours of the attack, Washington discounted Kyiv’s culpability, suggesting that ISIS was responsible based on intelligence reports and previous warnings.
France also joined the United States in asserting that intelligence indicated the attack was carried out by ISIS.
US Ambassador to Iraq, Alina Romanowski, indicated that ISIS still poses a threat despite being weakened, emphasizing the need to defeat the group everywhere.
Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Zakharova criticized the US for creating what she termed as “controlled chaos” in the Middle East through interventions that have led to the rise of terrorist organizations.
Last week’s incident in Moscow has ignited a complex geopolitical blame game among global powers, highlighting the ongoing tensions in the region.
