In-Depth Analysis: The Rising Islamic State Khurasan Threat to Europe
ISKP Vows Moscow-Scale Attacks Across Europe, Threatens Olympics and Sporting Events
The Islamic State Khurasan Province (ISKP), has emerged as IS’s most globally minded branch and the greatest international terrorist threat in Eurasia, as demonstrated by the March 22nd assault on the Crocus City Hall venue in Moscow which killed at least 145 people and injured as many as 551 others. This marked ISKP’s third successful external operation since the January 3rd double suicide bombing in Kerman, Iran, that killed over 105 people and was then followed by a shooting at the Roman Catholic Church of Santa Maria in Istanbul Turkey weeks later. ISKP’s Westward push from South Asia has seen rapid operational network expansion into Europe, with a markedly increasing number of thwarted attack plots linked to the Afghanistan-based group in recent months.
This rise in official ISKP-directed attacks and associated foiled plots is taking place within the broader post-October 7 environment where IS Central, IS-Khurasan, and pro-IS propaganda outlets are leveraging hostile sentiments throughout the Islamic world fuelled by Israel’s military ground invasion of Gaza, its intensifying action in Rafah, and its high volume aerial bombardment following the Hamas attack. This aggressive campaign to mobilize and incite supporters to violence against Jews and Westerners has yielded success with two attacks in France, one in Belgium, one in Switzerland, and at least one in Australia since the Israel-Hamas conflict broke out.