On March 22, 2024 – just days after the presidential election in Russia, where Vladimir Putin won a landslide, innocent civilians in the country felt horrified by a gruesome terrorist attack at Crocus City Hall – 25 kilometers from Russian capital Moscow. Although immediately after this cowardice attack, Islamist militancy outfit Islamic State Khorasan Province (ISKP) claimed responsibility, counterterrorism experts in the world say – behind ISKP main perpetrators might have tried to hide their involvement. They also say – even if the March 22 massacre was implemented by ISIS or ISKP, it does not relieve Ukraine as well as the United States and Washington’s European allies from being held responsible, as it is well-perceived – ISIS in many ways today is a controlled client of Western intelligence establishments.

Most importantly following the Crocus City Hall terrorist massacre, even before Russian authorities began investigation, the West started saying that the ISKP’s statement claiming responsibility was “genuine”.

Statements from Washington were first reported by some media outlets such as CNN and Reuters, which was later picked up by Western officials. On March 25, White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre in a statement insisted that Islamic State (ISIS) was behind the Crocus City Hall massacre.

In my opinion, the Crocus City Hall massacre does not match with similar attacks by Islamic State. Moreover, even if the March 22 massacre was implemented by ISIS or ISKP, it does not relieve Ukraine as well as the United States and Washington’s European allies from being held responsible.

Commenting on the March 22 massacre, former US Marine Corps intelligence officer Scott Ritter said, “This was a political act linked to an American policy objective being implemented by Ukrainian intelligence services”.

He said,........

© Blitz