What is ISIS Khorasan and why did it claim to attack in Russia?

ISIS is largely rooted in Central Asia and views Russia as the US, which it believes harbors 'hate' sentiments against Islam.

Russia was warned of an imminent terror attack by extremists before Friday night's tragedy at a music concert in Moscow.

Yet when a gang of four gunmen opened fire on seven thousand concertgoers to see the progressive rock band Picnic at Crooks City Hall, it seems Russian intelligence services were unprepared for the attack.

At least 137 people were killed and more than 100 injured during the shooting, which the Islamic extremist group Daesh Khorasan claimed responsibility for in several videos and messages.

All four suspects were immediately arrested and taken to court. A few hours earlier, a video showed him being dragged blindfolded to the intelligence headquarters.

What is Daesh Khorasan?

The region consisting of parts of Iran, Turkmenistan and Afghanistan was formerly called 'Khorasan' and the Islamic State of Khorasan (ISIS-K) is named after this old term. The group emerged in eastern Afghanistan in late 2014 and soon became notorious for its extreme brutality.

Although the organization has seen a decline in membership since 2018, it remains one of ISIS' most active regional allies. Over the years, it has been continuously targeted by US forces and the Taliban, both of which have caused heavy losses to the organization.

Even so, the United States considers the organization dangerous, with Congress told last March that Daesh Khorasan was developing the ability to carry out "external operations" in Europe and Asia.

US Central Command commander General Michael Karella has predicted that it will be able to strike US and Western interests outside Afghanistan 'within less than six months and without warning'.

Why the attack in Russia?

Islamic extremist groups have often been a challenge to Russia's security, with Daesh Khorasan previously bombing the Russian city of St. Petersburg metro in 2017, killing 15 people.

ISIS is largely rooted in Central Asia and views Russia as the US, which it believes harbors 'hate' sentiments against Islam.

He also cites Russia's support for the regime of Syrian President  Bashar al-Assad , which led to Russia's intervention in Syria in 2015 and airstrikes last year.

Michael Kugelman, director of the Washington-based Wilson Center, said ISIS "sees Russia as complicit in activities that persecute Muslims."

He added that the group also counts as members a number of Central Asian militants who have grievances with Moscow.

What other attacks has this organization carried out?

Earlier this year, the United States intercepted communications that confirmed the group had carried out two bombings in Iran that killed nearly 100 people. These people had gathered to mourn the death anniversary of Iranian military officer Qassem Soleimani who was killed by US forces.

In September 2022, Daesh Khorasan militants claimed responsibility for a deadly suicide attack on the Russian Embassy in Kabul.

The group was also responsible for an attack on Kabul International Airport in 2021 during the tumultuous US withdrawal from Afghanistan that killed 13 US soldiers and at least 169 civilians.