Tragedy Amidst Kremlin

Ishtiaq Ahmed

London: The Islamic State  (ISIS) claims responsibility for the heinous terrorist attack on the Crocus City concert outside Moscow that resulted in 133 deaths.

ISIS has shared photographs and video footage of the attack but the Russian authorities continue to blame Ukraine for the attack. Kyiv has strongly denied any links to the attack and blames Moscow for using it to escalate the conflict.

The US has said that it has intelligence that the terrorist group acted alone denying that there was no Ukrainian involvement. However, the Russian authorities have practically dismissed the US intelligence.

However, Vladimir Putin has claimed that Ukraine had “ prepared a window” for the terrorist to cross the border. So far the Russian authorities have not provided any evidence to confirm this claim.

Russians are observing a nationwide day of mourning for the worst terrorist attack in the country for almost two decades. It is a serious breach of tight-fisted internal security which the authorities enforce mercilessly.

The Russian intelligence and security services will inevitably come under intense scrutiny.

It is also clear that the Russians will continue to shift the blame to Ukraine and maybe an attempt to implicate American intelligence. If this happens, it would not be the first time.

Although ISIS has claimed responsibility for the attack, their motive is clear. In the past, ISIS’ main focus has been the ‘evil west’. 

Although ISIS has claimed responsibility for the attack, their motive is unclear. In the past, ISIS’ main focus has been the ‘evil west’.

Why switch the strategy?