The branch of the jihadist organization Islamic State (IS) “involved” in the attack which left 137 dead near Moscow “had carried out several attempts in recent months” on French “soil”, declared Monday March 25 Emmanuel Macron , after raising the Vigipirate plan to its maximum level. “We must guard against any instrumentalization or distortion, but be demanding and effective. It is in this spirit that we are moving forward and I hope that Russia will do the same,” said the French president upon his arrival in Guyana, while Vladimir Putin pointed to Ukraine’s responsibility while refusing to comment on the IS claim.
“It would be both cynical and counterproductive for Russia itself and the security of its nationals to use this context to try to turn it against Ukraine,” he insisted to the press.
ISIS claimed responsibility for Friday evening’s attack on a concert hall on the outskirts of the Russian capital. Its Afghan branch, the Islamic State in Khorasan (IS-K) organization, is the main suspect in the eyes of global terrorism experts.
According to Emmanuel Macron, the French intelligence services believe that this entity “fomented this attack and carried it out”.
“Increased cooperation”
The executive took note during a meeting on Sunday evening at the Elysée that “this particular group, which is apparently involved in this attack, had carried out several attempts on our own soil in recent months”, explained the head of state. “And therefore, taking into account its ramifications and its intentions, as a precautionary measure, but with credible and solid elements”, he “decided to raise the posture of Vigipirate”, which had been lowered in January.
Emmanuel Macron assured that France had “proposed to the Russian services, as to our partners in the region, increased cooperation”, “taking into account the information available to our services and the elements which may be useful to the Russians”.
Asked to say whether he could speak about it himself directly with his Russian counterpart, he replied that contacts would be made at “technical and ministerial” level “initially”. “We will see how the context evolves and whether the coming days or weeks justify it,” he added.
