ISIL claims responsibility

This is false. The alleged ISIS announcement has already been identified as a fake. However it should be noted that this narrative was put out in a coordinated fashion by western media almost immediately after the attack in order to get ahead of the story.

So far what is known is:

• the terrorists claim they were offered a substantial amount of money for the attack through a Telegram contact

• the terrorists claim they were provided with weapons through a cache set up by a well organized network

• the terrorists do not claim affiliation with ISIS

• the terrorists were apprehended while frantically trying to reach the Ukrainian border

The fact pattern does not fit the MO of ISIS, this was not a suicide attack, it was meticulously planned and organized by a professional agency with substantial resources complete with a getaway plan for the terrorists.

I don't want to say anything more than this for now because this is not the time for speculation, we have to wait for all the facts. We will learn more in the coming days and weeks.

My deepest condolences to those affected by this heinous crime.