<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-topline">TOPLINE</h2>



The Islamic State group took responsibility for a Friday attack on a Moscow area concert hall that left at least 40 dead and about 100 injured, according to&nbsp;<a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2024/03/22/world/europe/isis-moscow-attack-concert-hall.html" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">multiple</a>&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cnn.com/2024/03/22/europe/crocus-moscow-shooting/index.html" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">outlets</a>, a claim confirmed by U.S. officials and Russian media.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-key-facts">KEY FACTS</h2>



A branch of ISIS based in Afghanistan and known as ISIS-K claimed responsibility for the shooting in a statement made on Telegram and published by ISIS-affiliated news agency Amaq,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cnn.com/2024/03/22/europe/crocus-moscow-shooting/index.html" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">CNN</a>&nbsp;reported.



U.S. officials confirmed the ISIS connection to the <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2024/03/22/world/europe/isis-moscow-attack-concert-hall.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">New York Times</a>, noting U.S. intelligence members collected evidence in March that the ISIS branch was planning an attack on Moscow and that ISIS members have been active in Russia.







Russia’s foreign ministry called the shooting a terrorist attack, according to <a href="https://abcnews.go.com/International/shooting-reported-concert-hall-moscow/story?id=108396308" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">ABC News</a>, which noted a U.S. official said they see no reason to doubt ISIS’ claim of responsibility.



The shooting reportedly took place around 8 p.m. local time and was conducted by&nbsp;<a href="https://abcnews.go.com/International/shooting-reported-concert-hall-moscow/story?id=108396308" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">at least five gunmen</a>&nbsp;in camouflage who opened fire on concertgoers in attendance for a show by Russian rock band Picnic.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-tangent">TANGENT</h2>



The U.S. Embassy in Russia issued a&nbsp;<a href="https://ru.usembassy.gov/security-alert-avoid-large-gatherings-over-the-next-48-hours/" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">warning</a>&nbsp;two weeks ago urging Americans to avoid large gatherings in Moscow, citing reports of extremist plans to target such gatherings.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-suprising-fact">SUPRISING FACT</h2>



The incident is the largest terror attack in Central Russia in terms of victims since the 2011 Domodedovo airport bombing, according to ABC. The bombing killed 37 people and injured 172.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-key-background">KEY BACKGROUND</h2>



“ISIS-K has been fixated on Russia for the past two years,” Colin P. Clarke, a counterterrorism analyst at the Soufan Group, told the New York Times, adding the branch group has accused the Kremlin of spilling Muslim blood through its interventions in Afghanistan, Chechnya and Syria. Friday’s attack comes less than a week after Russian President Vladimir Putin appeared to secure reelection after dominating the polls.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-further-reading">FURTHER READING</h2>



<a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/brianbushard/2024/03/22/at-least-40-dead-at-moscow-music-hall-shooting-russian-state-media-says/?sh=736f3f417c78">At Least 40 Dead At Moscow Music Hall Shooting, Russian State Media Says</a>&nbsp;(Forbes)



<a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2024/03/22/world/europe/isis-moscow-attack-concert-hall.html" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">U.S. Says ISIS Was Responsible for Deadly Moscow Concert Hall Attack</a>&nbsp;(New York Times)



<a href="https://abcnews.go.com/International/shooting-reported-concert-hall-moscow/story?id=108396308" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">ISIS claims responsibility in deadly attack on Russia&#8217;s Crocus City Hall</a> (ABC)



<a href="https://www.cnn.com/2024/03/22/europe/crocus-moscow-shooting/index.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">ISIS claims responsibility for attack in busy Moscow-area concert venue that left at least 40 dead</a> (CNN)

Iran-Reaction, Shooting At The Crocus City Hall Concert In Moscow

ISIS Claims Responsibility For Moscow Shooting That Left 40 Dead

It was a long journey for many on a sunny afternoon to the district of Laikipia, on the Equator, tucked away in the shadow of Mount Kenya.
Many had journeyed 200 kilometers from Nairobi to catch a glimpse of Africa’s richest footballer.
The longest journey of all was undertaken by Samuel Eto’o, who had flown from Moscow.
Eto’o leads a strange life in Russia amid vast wealth, unrest and racism. He scored 13 goals in 23 games for Anzhi Makhachkala, a team in Dagestan on the western shores of the Caspian Sea, close to the borders of Georgia and Azerbaijan. It is also a club slap–bang in the middle of Islamic insurgency. The region is considered so dangerous that Eto’o and his teammates have to train at a camp outside Moscow and fly more than 1,200 kilometers, 15 times-a-season, for home games.
On this warm afternoon in Laikipia, in the Kenyan highlands, there was no danger, merely adulation. More than 10,000 people crammed into the tiny football ground, with its two small stands, for the final of the Laikipia Unity Cup, where Eto’o was to make a symbolic kick-off.
The crowd was loud and jubilant. You could probably have heard the roar on the slopes of Mount Kenya. Thousands cheered and blew vuvuzelas as Eto’o, flanked by soldiers and the police commissioner, strode to the center-circle through a guard of honor made by players from nearby football clubs. It was a rare sight these days–one of the highest-paid athletes on the planet, in jeans and a T-shirt, mixing with the people as if he was about to lace up his boots and play.
<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignleft size-large wp-image-947" src="/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/Forbes.Africa-Samuel.Etoo-9-683x1024.jpg" alt="" width="474" height="711" />
The Cameroonian was in Kenya to promote conservation and environmental issues, but this trip to Laikipia sparked the idea of opening a football academy in the district. It would be the third in Africa after those he opened through the Eto’o Foundation in Gabon and Cameroon.
“I was driving back to the hotel when this crazy but beautiful idea crossed my mind. I hoped those who would attend the academy would take advantage of the opportunity. I want them to be better than me.”
Thirty-one-year-old Eto’o is the only man to win African Player of the Year four times. He earns $28.8 million a year. His club, Anzhi Makhachkala, is owned by a man who can afford him: Russian billionaire, Suleyman Kerimov. He is the 146th richest man in the world, according to Forbes, worth $6.5 billion. Kerimov, who was born and bred in Dagestan, owns stakes in everything
from long-distance telephone lines to Russia’s largest
gold mine.
The money may be good in Europe, but all too often the racism is bad, even though the authorities are trying to stamp it out. Eto’o has been in the thick of it. Once, while playing for Barcelona, he threatened to walk off the pitch as Real Zaragoza fans chanted racial insults at him. In March 2011, hooligans threw bananas—a crude expression of racism—at Eto’o’s fellow player and former Brazilian captain, Roberto Carlos. Russia, the host of the FIFA World Cup in 2018, is alleged to suffer from severe racism in football.
“Racism is everywhere and football is only a reflection of our society,” he says.
“Racism is about ignorance and nothing else. It’s not that hard to change a racist mind; all you need to do is to educate them,” says the striker.
The face of European soccer is changing fast. Almost all top European football clubs have an African playing for them. The success of the likes of Eto’o and Didier Drogba—who played a pivotal role in getting Chelsea the first-ever European Champions League trophy in May—is attracting more African football youth to Europe.
“A lot of youth have immigrated to Europe because they are looking for better opportunities. I actually want them to stay here in Africa so that they can build the continent,” he says.
Eto’o has a plan beyond football. The football academy he intends to build in Kenya will also focus on educating the youth on a number of subjects, particularly learning English.
“Football has given me everything and I would like to give back some of the things I got through football. That’s why I’m investing back into football in Africa.”
On the question of whether he will remain as one of the top-paid African players in the world, Eto’o was quick to detach football from money.
“Football is not about money, it’s about talent. My objective is to nurture the next generation of footballers so that this trend keeps on continuing. That’s one of the reasons why I am investing in football academies—so that the next generation can be as talented as ours.”
Eto’o’s contract with Anzhi comes to an end in 2014 and the Cameroonian skipper has planned his retirement. He has a number of projects that will keep him busy for years to come and a campaign against racism that is likely to take a lifetime.

Tag: Moscow.

FORBES AFRICA SOCIAL MEDIA

ISIS Claims Responsibility For Moscow Shooting That Left 40 Dead

A Crazy And Beautiful Idea From Russia With Love