The Associated Press (“AP News”) reports that at least 115 persons were killed and many more wounded yesterday (3/22/2024) in an attack at Crocus City Hall, a concert venue located just west of Moscow in Krasnogorsky. The Islamic State group has claimed responsibility for the attack – which has been confirmed by U.S. intelligence agencies.
In a statement posted by its Aamaq news agency, the Islamic State’s affiliate in Afghanistan said it had attacked a large gathering of “Christians” in Krasnogorsk – although AP News was not able to independently verify the statement’s authenticity.
Russian authorities detained 11 persons, according to Russian state media, with four suspects stopped in the Bryansk region of western Russia near the border with Ukraine. The attack came just days after Russian President Vladimir Putin cemented his grip on power in a highly orchestrated electoral landslide.
The AP News report may be read HERE.
My brothers and sisters, the United States is well acquainted with the Islamic State and this attack is pure evil. Period.
Russian officials are already making assertions that Ukraine was somehow involved in this terrorist action, although in a time of war, there is always reason to doubt the veracity of such statements – which tend to serve the dual purpose of using a tragic situation to demean the enemy (in this case, Ukraine) and to blame the enemy for an attack, whether true or false, which helps to bolster support for the war domestically.
Ukraine’s President, Volodymyr Zelensky, flatly denies any involvement by Ukraine in the Crocus City Hall attack, stating on ‘X’ (formerly Twitter) that “Ukraine has never resorted to the use of terrorist methods. Everything in this war will be decided only on the battlefield.”
The Aamaq news agency’s assertion about Islamic State attacking “Christians” would certainly be right in line with the terrorist group’s ideology and past actions; however, it remains unclear if this claim is accurate or whether, like Russian is doing, the assertion serves as an opportunity to disparage the group’s enemy, all things Christian and of the West.
Regardless of it all, and as if more ‘proof’ were necessary, this shows how out of control things have become across the globe, with the sometimes not-so-subtle reminder, even from groups like the Islamic State, that the battle being waged is spiritual – a battle of good versus evil (see Ephesians 6:12 and 2 Corinthians 10:3-5).
Let’s never forget that slaughtering innocents is exactly what the devil wants to happen and that Satan’s goals are to steal, kill and destroy that which is of God (see John 10:10)!
Here are the above-referenced scriptures:
Ephesians 6:12 (NKJV)
“For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, [and] against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.”
2 Corinthians 10:3-5 (NKJV)
“For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh. For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ…”.
John 10:10 (NKJV)
“The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I [Jesus] have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.”
Praise Jesus forevermore!
