A video released by an Islamic State sub-group appears to show militants in Iraq praising the Paris shootings and warning that a similar attack could take place in Washington.
The message, which was distributed by Islamic State-related social network accounts on Monday, claimed to be made by Wilayat Kirkuk, a group based in Salahuddine province, north of Iraq.
Its authenticity could not immediately be confirmed. While the video does closely resemble others released by the Islamic State, it lacked the theatrics and high quality editing that other videos have had.
The six-minute long video begins with a selection of news clips showing the aftermath of the attacks, with French President Francois Hollande condemning them.
Later in the video, a man identified as "Al Ghareeb the Algerian" speaks to the camera, threatening the "crusader" nations in the coalition against the Islamic State. The United States' capital city is specifically singled out.
"We say to the states that take part in the crusader campaign that, by God, you will have a day, God willing, like France's and by God, as we struck France in the center of its abode in Paris, then we swear that we will strike America at its center in Washington," the man shown says, according to a translation from Reuters.
The same man also said that European nations should expect similar attacks.
"I say to the European countries that we are coming, coming with booby traps and explosives, coming with explosive belts and [gun] silencers and you will be unable to stop us because today we are much stronger than before," he said.
Friday's attacks in Paris, which have left at least 129 people dead, were claimed by the Islamic State shortly afterwards. French warplanes launched a retaliatory attack on Sunday, dropping 20 bombs on the Islamic State's de facto in Raqqa, Syria.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news...aris-style-attack-on-washington/?tid=pm_pop_b
The message, which was distributed by Islamic State-related social network accounts on Monday, claimed to be made by Wilayat Kirkuk, a group based in Salahuddine province, north of Iraq.
Its authenticity could not immediately be confirmed. While the video does closely resemble others released by the Islamic State, it lacked the theatrics and high quality editing that other videos have had.
The six-minute long video begins with a selection of news clips showing the aftermath of the attacks, with French President Francois Hollande condemning them.
Later in the video, a man identified as "Al Ghareeb the Algerian" speaks to the camera, threatening the "crusader" nations in the coalition against the Islamic State. The United States' capital city is specifically singled out.
"We say to the states that take part in the crusader campaign that, by God, you will have a day, God willing, like France's and by God, as we struck France in the center of its abode in Paris, then we swear that we will strike America at its center in Washington," the man shown says, according to a translation from Reuters.
The same man also said that European nations should expect similar attacks.
"I say to the European countries that we are coming, coming with booby traps and explosives, coming with explosive belts and [gun] silencers and you will be unable to stop us because today we are much stronger than before," he said.
Friday's attacks in Paris, which have left at least 129 people dead, were claimed by the Islamic State shortly afterwards. French warplanes launched a retaliatory attack on Sunday, dropping 20 bombs on the Islamic State's de facto in Raqqa, Syria.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news...aris-style-attack-on-washington/?tid=pm_pop_b
