ISIS has threatened Washington, D.C. with Paris-like attacks. The terror group released a video that warns any country launching an attack on Syria, ISIS’ stronghold, will be subjected to brutal attacks.
Terror group ISIS appeared to threaten America, warning that its capital city, Washington, D.C. would soon be devastated with an attack along the lines of the Paris attacks. The new video, which contains ISIS propaganda and the threat, was released on the terrorist faction’s sites. The video warns America, along with any other country participating in attacking the terror group in Syria, that it would suffer the same fate as France. Though the group mentioned the capital city, it refrained from mentioning any specific target in Washington, D.C. The group had released a similar video for Russia earlier.
The video, which started appearing on numerous sites that propagate ISIS propaganda, starts with news coverage of the terrorist attack that took place in Paris last Friday. The attack appeared to be meticulously planned but randomly executed. Suicide bombers who blew themselves in confined spaces and gunmen who opened fire in public places were responsible for the death of 129 people and injuries to many more, reported New York Daily News . ISIS claimed responsibility for the attack and had warned of similar attacks on foreign soil.
While there were routine attacks on ISIS by countries like America and Russia, France significantly stepped up its offensive tactics a mere 48 hours after its capital city was attacked. The countries have been participating in joint offensive against ISIS, what is being referred to as the “crusader campaign.”
After showing the news coverage, the video focuses on a man dressed in fatigues and a turban, identified in subtitles as Al Ghareeb the Algerian. Speaking in the local language, Ghareeb says,
“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 video is accompanied by English subtitles. Though the man mentions Washington, D.C., as well as other countries targeting ISIS in Syria, he never indicates what the group intends to target in America’s capital. Warning other European countries, he mocks them by saying they “will be unable to stop us because today we are much stronger than before.”
The video also contains a brief clip of French President Francois Hollande. Another ISIS member, identified as Al Karrar the Iraqi, warns Hollande they will “negotiate with you in the trenches and not in the hotels.” The terrorist might be referring to the ongoing international talks to end the Syrian war, reported MSN .
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security has refrained from commenting on the video, whose authenticity hasn’t been corroborated. However, Capitol Police have increased security on Capitol Hill. D.C. police too have been shouldered with the responsibility to work jointly with local and federal law enforcement and Homeland Security agencies to ensure Washington D.C. is under a security blanket.
The clip was released a day after France launched a series of airstrikes on Raqqa, ISIS’ makeshift capital in Syria. In clear retaliation to the brutal massacre of innocent civilians, 12 French planes airdropped about 20 bombs over suspected training camps of ISIS. The attack launched late evening was said to be a success, with many terrorists killed in a single sweep.
Sunday’s airstrike on ISIS was by far the biggest air raid by France. It was launched in coordination with U.S. forces. While the airstrikes were happening in Syria, French police forcibly entered homes of suspected Islamist militants in France. The raids too, started in the evening and continued through the night. The actual count of people arrested hasn’t been officially declared.
[Image via Video Screen Grab]