“Israel is ISIS” and other lies about the Crocus City Hall terror attack

Conspiracy theories and antisemitic narratives have flooded social media in the wake of an Islamic State-claimed terror attack at a music venue outside Moscow. 

On March 22, 2024, four gunmen attacked concertgoers at Crocus City Hall, shooting into the crowd and using explosives to set the building on fire, killing at least 130 people and injuring at least 140 others. 

Hours after the attack, the Amaq News Agency, a propaganda arm of the Islamic State (IS or ISIS), claimed responsibility for the massacre on its Telegram channel. The post did not identify a specific IS cell, but U.S. officials believe it may be linked to the Islamic State–Khorasan Province , often referred to as ISIS-K or just IS-K. 

Extremists and conspiracy theorists are denying IS carried out the attack, despite the group’s claim of responsibility, the available evidence and their history of targeting and making threats against Russia. Instead, mis- and disinformation about the attack have run rampant, accusing a range of entities such as Jews, Israel, the CIA and Ukraine. 

Blaming Jews  

Despite the preponderance of evidence that IS was responsible for the Moscow attack, extremists and conspiracy theorists have tried to claim that Jews are responsible for the deadly assault, echoing false narratives created in the wake of other significant terrorist attacks, as well as tropes that Jews have the power to manipulate global events.  

On X, antisemitic conspiracy theorist Daniel Haqiqatjou suggested a link between the timing of the attack and the Jewish holiday Purim, falsely stating it celebrates the mass murder of the “enemies of the Jews.”

Daniel Haqiqatjou falsely suggests a connection between Purim and IS terror attack. Source: X 

On multiple white supremacist Telegram channels, members exchanged the conspiratorial belief that IS is secretly run by the CIA, and that the CIA is controlled by the Jews. These theories therefore imply that IS is a product of Jewish control.

User in white supremacist chat suggests IS is controlled by CIA and Jews. Source: Telegram 

A popular antisemitic influencer on X shared an offensive cartoon that incorporates the antisemitic “Happy Merchant” to promote the false claim that Jews were actually responsible for the actions of IS in Moscow.

Blaming Israel or Mossad

Many alleged that IS is a direct product of Israel, sometimes weaponizing the acronym to call it the “Israeli secret intelligence service.” In fact, from March 22 - March 24, 2024, there were over 59,000 mentions of the phrases “Israeli secret intelligence service” or “Israel is ISIS” on X.

An X account called “Suppressed Voice,” which routinely amplifies Hamas propaganda and glorifies terrorism as a form of “resistance,” posted these conspiratorial sentiments alongside the false claim that Mossad is also an IS-affiliate.

Suppressed Voice shares fake IS acronym and false Israel narrative. Source: X 

Shortly after IS claimed responsibility for the Crocus City Hall attack, antisemitic influencer Lucas Gage  simply concluded, “So it was Israel” on X. Gage is a regular promoter of antisemitic, anti-Zionist and anti-Israel conspiracy theories.

Lucas Gage states IS attack was actually Israel. Source: X 

Jake Shields, another popular antisemitic conspiracy theorist on X, also shared the statement “Israel is ISIS,” using headlines that suggest past IS members were actually working with Mossad. Theories that Mossad created or backed IS are not new and are popular among promoters of anti-Israel disinformation.

Jake Shields claims “Israel is ISIS.” Source: X

Blaming the CIA

Conspiratorial  far-right commentator Jackson Hinkle shared a variety of theories about the attack on his show, eventually concluding: “We all know who’s responsible for this terror attack. You can say Ukraine, you can say ISIS, you can say whoever, but we know it’s the CIA who’s doing this stuff.”

Jackson Hinkle diverts blame for Moscow attacks away from IS. Source: Rumble

On Telegram, social media influencer and QAnon promoter Jordan Sather shared a conspiracy theory that the attack “was set up by rogue CIA elements.” Sather claimed the timing of the event was too “coincidental” because it happened days after former President Barack Obama met with United Kingdom Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, and because the date of the attack was “numerologically significant.” Sather has a long history of promoting outlandish narratives and “false flag” claims, including those about school shootings.

Jordan Sather finds timing “too coincidental,” blaming CIA. Source: Telegram 

Blaming Ukraine

Many users incorporated pro-Russia/anti-Ukraine sentiments into their narratives, suggesting Ukraine was a co-conspirator working with IS, Israel and the CIA to carry out the Crocus City Hall attack.

A video shared by Lord Bebo, a popular X account known for promoting false and misleading content to over 358,000 followers, alleged that IS is a “CIA creation.” Lord Bebo also suggested the IS admission was “a cover up to deflect blame from Ukraine.”

Lord Bebo suggests connection between IS, CIA and Ukraine. Source: X 

On Telegram, election denier and antisemitic conspiracy theorist Ali Alexander  also proposed that IS is working with the CIA, Israel and Ukraine to get access to “funding, weapons, and satellite images for targeting/intelligence.”

Ali Alexander claims IS “teamed up” with CIA, Israel and Ukraine. Source: Telegram