French President Emmanuel Macron declared on Monday that the assailants responsible for the tragic loss of 137 lives in a concert hall near Moscow were affiliated with an Islamist group known for previous thwarted attempts to target France.
Macron’s assertion shed light on the French government’s decision to raise the security alert to its highest level on Sunday, March 24. While Russia has disputed claims by the United States suggesting the involvement of the Islamic State militant group in Friday’s assault, Macron condemned Russia’s insinuation on Monday, March 25, that Ukraine bore responsibility for the attacks, labeling it as “cynical and counterproductive.”
“The Islamic State claimed responsibility for this attack,” Macron stated. “Based on the information available to us, including intelligence reports and insights from our key partners, it is evident that this was orchestrated by an entity within the Islamic State.”
He further emphasized, “This group has made repeated attempts to target France,” alluding to Islamic State’s branch in Afghanistan, commonly referred to as ISIS-Khorasan or ISIS-K. Islamic State has indeed claimed accountability for the tragic events that unfolded in Moscow on Friday.
France has endured a series of Islamist assaults over the past decade, with the most devastating occurring in 2015, when the Bataclan concert hall, as well as cafes and bars in Paris, were targeted in coordinated attacks.
