Attack on church in Grozny is the 20th IS' attack in Northern Caucasus

The attempt to capture believers in the Chechen church has reminded by its style the actions of the "Islamic State" (IS), a terrorist organization, banned in Russia by the court. This is stated by the analysis of similar incidents since 2015, prepared by the "Caucasian Knot" after the attack in Grozny. This conclusion was confirmed today by the IS* itself, which claimed responsibility for the 20th time for attacks committed in Northern Caucasus.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that on May 19, in an attack on the Archangel Michael Church, located in the centre of Grozny, the capital of Chechnya, two policemen, four militants and one believer were killed; two other policemen and another believer were wounded. A law enforcement source has named the killed alleged militants – three residents of Chechnya and a resident of Ingushetia.

Earlier, the "Caucasian Knot" has reported that today the Caucasian branch of the IS has claimed responsibility for the attempted to capture believers in the Grozny church on May 19, in which seven persons perished.

The "Caucasian Knot" pointed to a possible involvement of IS* militants in the incident in Grozny even before the terrorist organization's statement, based on the analysis of the previous attacks of the IS* committed in the regions of the North-Caucasian Federal District (NCFD). The attack on the church in Grozny was the third attack on religious sites in Northern Caucasus committed this year; the IS* claimed responsibility for all of them.

Since 2015, prior to the attack on the Grozny church, the IS* claimed responsibility for three attacks committed in Chechnya. In total, since 2015, the IS* has announced its involvement in 20 attacks undertaken in Northern Caucasus, including the incident in the Chechen capital on May 19.

* Islamic State (IS, earlier, the ISIL) is recognized as a terrorist organization and banned by the court in Russia

Full text of the article is available on the Russian page of 24/7 Internet agency ‘Caucasian Knot’.