MOSCOW, November 7 (RIA Novosti) – Indian intelligence agencies warned police to beef up security at foreign diplomatic missions in the country due to possible terrorist attacks orchestrated by the Islamic State (IS), The Times of India reported Friday.
According to the newspaper's intelligence sources, educated young Indian nationals may be affected by the IS propaganda on the Internet, which could lead them to carry out single-man attacks on embassies and consulates of the Western nations, including those of the United States, Canada and EU member states.
The IS actively uses social media to recruit new members. In September, Australian media reported that the country had intercepted a phone call between a high-profile IS member and a Sydney resident, in which the two had allegedly discussed a plot to seize and behead a random Australian.
The Times of India said that similar incidents were prevented in India, like in the detention of a Mumbai resident in October, who had purportedly planned an attack on an American school in an area under IS influence.
Indian police have been instructed to ensure the security of foreigners in several major cities across the country.
IS extremists have been fighting the Syrian government since 2012. In June, the group started launching attacks in Iraq. In August, the United States approved air strikes against IS targets in the country, which were extended to Syria in September.
According to US intelligence estimates, about 30,000 foreigners are fighting for the IS. The group also distributes videos of its beheadings and other extremist content via social networks.
