Russia's World Cup likely target for Islamic State - U.S. analysis firm

 

A sign with the logo of the 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia is on display near the Kremlin before the events, dedicated to the upcoming World Cup Final Draw, in central Moscow, Russia November 29, 2017. REUTERS/Sergei Karpukhin

 

BAGHDAD (Reuters) - The World Cup soccer tournament to be held in Russia in June and July will be an "attractive target" for Islamic State given Russia's role in the territorial defeat of the militant group, the U.K.-based analysis firm, IHS, said on Thursday.

 

"A successful attack (in Russia) would provide a tremendous propaganda boost for the Islamic State and its fighters and supporters, underlining the ongoing international threat posed by the group despite its territorial defeat," an IHS report said.

 

The participation of the national teams of Saudi Arabia and Iran in the tournament provided an even greater incentive for the group to target it, the report said.

 

Despite losing all territory in Iraq and Syria by November last year, the group claimed major attacks in Istanbul, London, Manchester, Barcelona and Tehran, killing dozens of civilians.

 

It targeted the Muslim holy city of Medina, in Saudi Arabia, in 2016.

 

Islamic State leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi is still on the run despite the collapse last year of the caliphate he declared in 2014 over parts of Syria and Iraq.

 

Attacks claimed by Islamic State rose slightly in 2017, to more than 4,500, despite its territorial losses, but fatalities from the attacks dropped by two-fifths compared with 2016 to about 6,500, the IHS said.

 

"As it came under growing territorial pressure, Islamic State transitioned back to insurgent operations, conducting a higher tempo of low intensity violence against security forces and non-state adversaries in areas newly recaptured from the group" in Iraq and Syria, said Matthew Henman, head of IHS Jane's Terrorism and Insurgency Center, in the report.

 

(Reporting by Ahmed Rasheed; Editing by Richard Balmforth)

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2018-01-18

I do not think the russian fans would let any muslim looking person near them.i bet if they see a suspicious looking muslim they would do him or her or them over.even side with the england fans against them

40 minutes ago, crazyk said:

the russian fans

You might research a little as to who is a "Russian."

A survey by the Pew Research Center, in May 2017, found that 10% of Russia's population is Muslim.  Islam is the second most widely professed religion in Russia. Islam is considered as one of Russia’s traditional and second largest religions.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Islam_in_Russia