Russia to look into authenticity of IS threats video: Kremlin

Moscow, Nov 13: Russian security services will look into the authenticity of a video allegedly released by the Islamic State (IS) that threatens attacks in Russia "very soon," Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Thursday.

"I do not know the authenticity of this video and the sources. But in any case, our special services will no doubt look into this material," Xinhua quoted Peskov as saying.

Earlier in the day, the SITE monitoring group said the IS released a Russian-language video clip threatening attacks and bloodshed in Russia.

Concerns about security in Russia have been growing since Moscow launched an air campaign against IS targets in Syria late September at the request of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad. The Kremlin said the air raids have significantly diminished the combat capability of the terrorist group.

A Russia-bound A321 passenger jet crashed in Egypt's Sinai Peninsula on Oct. 31 shortly after takeoff from the Red Sea resort of Sharm el-Sheikh, killing all 224 people onboard, mostly Russians.

The Sinai-based group "Sinai State" that had pledged loyalty to the IS claimed responsibility for the crash hours after the tragedy, but Moscow has dismissed it as incredible.

Reports in Western media have bolstered the theory that the airplane was brought down by a bomb planted onboard by terrorists in retaliation for Russia's ongoing military operation against the IS in Syria.

IANS