Russia: Islamic State claims responsibility for attack in Chechnya July 1

Event

An unidentified assailant attacked a police checkpoint outside of Bamut (Chechnya) on Monday, July 1. According to media reports, the man stabbed a police officer with a knife before throwing a grenade. The attacker was then shot and killed; the officer later died of his wounds on the way to the hospital. Later in the day, the Islamic State (IS) released a statement claiming responsibility for the attack. Similar attacks are possible in Chechnya in the coming weeks.

Context

Chechnya is located within Russia's North Caucasus region, which also includes the restive Muslim-majority regions of Ingushetia, Dagestan, and Kabardino-Balkaria. Islamist militants and criminal groups in the region have been known to target Russian military personnel, local officials, and moderate Muslims. Chechnya, in particular, has been the site of a decades-long conflict between Moscow and separatist and religious radical groups; a large number of people from Chechnya have reportedly joined Islamic State (IS).

Advice

Individuals in Chechnya are advised to remain vigilant, obey all instructions issued by the local authorities, and to report any suspicious objects or behavior to the relevant authorities. As a reminder, some Western governments advise against nonessential travel to parts of the North Caucasus region.