The jihadist organization Islamic State (EI) promised, Sunday April 17, to “avenge” its previous leader, who died in February, and called on its supporters to take advantage of the war in Ukraine to resume their attacks in Europe.
On February 3, US President Joe Biden announced the death of former ISIS leader Abu Ibrahim al-Hachimi al-Qurachi, who blew himself up during an operation by US special forces in the northwestern Syria, a region under the control of jihadists.
His death, along with that of the group's former spokesman, was confirmed by IS on March 10.
"A blessed campaign for revenge"
"We announce, relying on God, a blessed campaign to take revenge" for the death of the leader of the IS group, said Abu Omar al-Muhajir, the spokesman, in an audio statement broadcast Sunday on Telegram attributed to them .
IS also called on its supporters to resume their attacks in Europe by seizing the "opportunity" of the "crusader fight", referring to Russia's invasion of Ukraine.
However, should this message be understood as a direct threat?
“You always have to take the threat seriously, but you have to contextualize it,” replies Wassim Nasr, journalist at France 24, specialist in jihadist groups.
"It sounds more like a reproach than a call to commit an attack," he continues, recalling that the last jihadist attack to hit Europe dates back to November 2020 in Vienna.
Also, he analyzes, "we are far from the activation of cells or the sending of teams as for that of November 13".
With AFP
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