context
After the terrorist attack near Moscow, speculation is flourishing. The clearest evidence points to the jihadist militia IS. In social networks, the terrorist group is now being declared an instrument of the West that is intended to harm Russia.
The Crocus City Hall concert hall near the Russian capital Moscow was still burning when the first speculations and alleged findings about the attack appeared on social networks. Some speculated that Ukraine was behind it, supposed proof: a delivery truck with a Ukrainian license plate was found not far from the hall. Numerous social media accounts claimed that the US was the mastermind of the attack because the US Embassy in Russia had warned of a possible terrorist attack.
However, this warning came from from March 7thwhen the embassy reported that it was following reports “that extremists have imminent plans to attack large gatherings in Moscow, including concerts.”
On Friday evening, the jihadist militia “Islamic State” (IS) published a message in which it claimed responsibility for the attack that killed more than 130 people. Experts classify the message as authentic because it was spread on numerous well-known channels of the terrorist organization. But numerous accounts now accuse the USA and Israel as the actual masterminds.
Trump’s fake accusations
In this context, a Trump quote from August 2016 appears dozens of times in which the former and possibly future US president claimed: “ISIS honors President Obama. He is the founder of ISIS. He is the founder of ISIS. He is the Founder. He founded ISIS. And I would say the co-founder is the corrupt Hillary Clinton, co-founder.”
These accusations from Trump are now being used as supposed evidence to blame the US for the attack in Moscow. According to the narrative, especially from pro-Russian accounts on X, IS is an instrument of the White House and is being used as a weapon against Moscow.
However, Trump’s statements are historically very questionable. The Roots of IS are dated by experts to the years 1999 to 2003; in 2006, IS was declared in Iraq. When Barack Obama became President of the USA in 2009, an IS network had already long existed.
There are controversial discussions about the consequences of the US withdrawal from Iraq in 2011 and Obama’s strategy in the Syrian civil war with regard to the growing importance of the jihadist militia. However, the withdrawal from Iraq had already been decided by George Bush’s government – and had Donald Trump himself called for it in 2007the USA should withdraw from the country.
Long half-life of toxic content
Trump said in 2016, shortly after his ISIS accusations against Obama, that his statements were merely meant to be “sarcastic.” But even eight years later, his statements are still being used online to assign blame after a terrorist attack. The example clearly shows how false claims can have a toxic effect in the long term and can deliberately mislead.
Israel as the alleged mastermind
In addition to the USA, Israel is also accused of having set up or directing IS. The Jewish state acts as a puppet master in the background, according to claims made by radically anti-Israel profiles on X and other platforms, which are clearly linked to anti-Semitic legends. In addition, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is portrayed as a jihadist and the Israeli flag is combined with the IS logo.
Numerous posts also claim that Israel was never attacked by IS, which is cited as supposed evidence for the theory that the terrorist group is led by the Mossad. In fact, IS had claimed responsibility for deadly attacks in Israel, for example in 2022 in Haderawhere two Israeli police officers were shot.
Numerous posts have also appeared showing a manipulated image in which Israeli soldiers are supposedly posing with Islamist fighters and an Israel and an IS flag. In fact, the original image shows soldiers from the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) participating in a multinational military exercise called “African Lion” in Morocco.
Doubts about Russian information on suspects
In Russia, meanwhile, voices are becoming louder – including from officials – pointing blame towards Ukraine. The basis is the official reports that suspects were arrested on the way to Ukraine.
The renowned historian Timothy Snyder considers this to be implausible. “Putin’s argument that the suspects were on their way to the Russian-Ukrainian border makes no sense,” writes Snyder on Platform “where the Russian army and security forces are most concentrated?”
ARD correspondent Ina Ruck from Moscow also said that Putin “immediately pointed the finger at Ukraine without citing any evidence.”
In addition, official information from the Kremlin hardly enjoys any credibility anymore – Russian propaganda has permanently destroyed this itself through numerous lies and false claims in recent years.
Editor’s note: Patrick Gensing was senior editor of the ARD fact finder until 2022 and now works part-time as a freelance journalist.