Just days after a string of attacks across Paris left 132 dead, the Islamic State published a new issue of its magazine featuring press photos of the carnage in France and an exclusive photo of the alleged bomb used to take down a Russian plane.
They claim that the Metrojet, which crashed over the Sinai on Halloween, was taken down by an improvised explosive device constructed in a soda can (screenshot above).
“The blessed attacks against the Russians and the French were successfully executed despite the international intelligence war against the Islamic State. Both crusader nations had undoubtedly destroyed their homes with their own hands through their hostilities towards Islam, the Muslims, and the Muslim body of the Khilāfah,” the magazine stated.
They also claimed that a plane from Russia wasn’t their first target at the Egyptian resort city of Sharm el-Sheikh, a favorite holiday spot for Brits.
“After having discovered a way to compromise the security at the Sharm el-Sheikh International Airport and resolving to bring down a plane belonging to a nation in the American-led Western coalition against the Islamic State, the target was changed to a Russian plane,” the article continues. “A bomb was smuggled onto the airplane.”
Addressing Friday’s attacks, the magazine said “eight knights brought Paris down on its knees, after years of French conceit in the face of Islam.”
“A nationwide state of emergency was declared as a result of the actions of eight men armed only with assault rifles and explosive belts. And so revenge was exacted upon those who felt safe in the cockpits of their jets.”
ISIS claimed the attacks “let the world know that we are living today in a new era.”
“Whoever was shocked and awed must comprehend. The Muslims today have a loud, thundering statement, and possess heavy boots. They have a statement that will cause the world to hear and understand the meaning of terrorism, and boots that will trample the idol of nationalism, destroy the idol of democracy, and uncover its deviant nature,” the magazine continued.
And the terror group stressed how the jihadists — in the Paris attacks, mostly natives of France and Belgium — operated in their home countries, highlighting ISIS’ oft-stated desire for more native jihadists to increase operational security.
The killers “did not use the obstacles laid down by the kuffār [nonbelievers] on the path to hijrah [immigration to the Islamic State] as an excuse to abandon jihād against the enemies. They did not use a younger age or lack of training as an excuse to be mere bystanders.”
Among the “brave knights” of jihad operating on their home turf, ISIS cited a University of California, Merced, computer science student who stabbed four earlier this month: “Faisal Mohammad carried the banner and his dagger to spear the crusaders of America on ‘4 November 2015,’ spilling their filthy blood in their insecure homeland.”
ISIS also praised the attack on a Jordanian police training facility by a captain in the security forces that left five dead — an attack Jordan says had no links to terrorist groups. “Anwar Abu Zeid – after repenting from his former occupation – attacked the American crusaders and their apostate allies, killing two American crusaders, two Jordanian apostates, and one South African crusader.”
“These are the deeds of those upon the methodology of the revived Khilāfah. They will not let its enemies enjoy rest until enemy blood is spilled in revenge for the religion and the Ummah,” Dabiq continues. “So let every such muwahhid barred from hijrah purify himself of the branches of lesser hypocrisy that hold him back from performing jihād in his location. Let him record his will, renew his bay’ah [pledge of allegiance], carry the Khilāfah banner, and strike the crusaders and their pagan and apostate allies wherever he can find them, even if he is alone.”
A threat against the United States is found later in the issue, contained in a Q&A with a Somali jihadist. ISIS is fighting to pull Al-Shabaab fighters away from loyalty to al-Qaeda.
Asking a jihadist named Abū Muhārib if he has any advice for Somalis in the West, he responds: “My advice is for them to do hijrah to the lands of the Khilāfah. Those who cannot should strike the kāfir enemies of the Khilāfah wherever they reside.”
And if nothing else, Abū Muhārib beseeches jihad supporters in the West, just send money.
Join the conversation as a VIP Member