Fact:
On April 3, 2017, the day Vladimir Putin was due to visit the city, a suicide bombing was carried out in the St. Petersburg metro, killing 15 people and injuring 64. An al-Qaeda affiliate, Imam Shamil Battalion, claimed responsibility.
Western news outlets focus on U.S. military efforts to stop the group due to its ties to al-Qaeda, including the U.S.’s role in striking al-Shabab militantsErnesto Lodono and Scott Wilson, “U.S. strikes al-Shabab in Somalia and captures bombing suspect in Libya,” Washington Post, October 6, 2013, http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/national-security/us-navy-seals-raid-al-shabab-leaders-somalia-home-in-response-to-nairobi-attack/2013/10/05/78f135dc-2e0c-11e3-8ade-a1f23cda135e_story.html. and in launching the drone strike that killed Godane.Helene Cooper, Eric Schmitt and Jeffrey Gettleman, “Strikes Killed Militant Chief in Somalia, U.S. Reports,” New York Times, September 5, 2014, http://www.nytimes.com/2014/09/06/world/africa/somalia-shabab.html. Connections to al-Qaeda have also raised concerns about al-Shabaab planning attacks overseas.
Extremists: Their Words. Their Actions.
Fact:
On April 3, 2017, the day Vladimir Putin was due to visit the city, a suicide bombing was carried out in the St. Petersburg metro, killing 15 people and injuring 64. An al-Qaeda affiliate, Imam Shamil Battalion, claimed responsibility.
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