Imam Shamil Battalion
| Imam Shamil Battalion | |
|---|---|
| Participant in the Insurgency in the North Caucasus, Islamic terrorism in Europe (2014–present) and the Global War on Terrorism |
|
The Shahada flag commonly used by al-Qaeda.
|
|
| Active | April of 2017(?) - present |
| Ideology | |
| Leaders | Abu Salah al-Uzbeky |
| Headquarters | |
| Area of operations |
 Russia
|
| Part of |
al-Qaeda
|
| Allies |
al-Qaeda, Tahrir al-Sham
|
| Opponents |
State opponents Non-State opponents |
| Battles and wars | 2017 Saint Petersburg metro bombing |
State opponents
Non-State opponents
Imam Shamil Battalion also known as Katiba Al Imam Shamil, is a militant Islamist organization, primarily active in the northern Caucasus, Chechnya and Russia. It is the Caucasian or Russian branch of al-Qaeda.
The name of the group, is apparently a reference to Imam Shamil, one of the firsts Chechen Muslim guerrillas that fought the Russian Empire at the Caucasian War, and the third Imam of Caucasian Imamate.
Its unknown when the group formed, and its existence was unknown until 26 April of 2017, when it claimed responsibility for the 2017 Saint Petersburg Metro bombing. In its statement, it said that the attack was ordered by al-Qaeda's general Emir, Ayman al-Zawahiri, and that the group acts in behalf of Al-Qaeda in Caucasus and Russian Federation. The attack was in retaliation of Russian military intervention in Syria. The group also said that this is the beginning, and that other attacks will also follow until Russians withdraw from Caucasus and Syria. Is speculated that the group is Headed by Sirozhiddin Mukhtarov, who is also known as Abu Salah al-Uzbeky. It is known in Bishkek that he was connected with the Uighur terrorist groups, which are at war in Syria and are related to Al-Qaeda and Tahrir al-Sham.
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