ISIS links prison break in DRC to speech from its spokesman

In its official media statement regarding
yesterday’s massive prison break in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC),
the Islamic State has directly linked that operation to a recent speech made by
its spokesman, Abu Hamza al-Quraishi.
The Islamic State begins its statement (above) by
summarizing yesterday’s events, which were carried out by its local branch, the
Allied Democratic Forces (ADF). At least 1,300 inmates were freed by the
jihadist group in the town of Beni in northeastern DRC.
Perhaps demonstrating the ADF’s provision of
accurate reporting from the ground to Islamic State’s media apparatus, the
statement correctly notes that the group targeted two military bases near the
prison not just one base as widely reported in the media.
Most importantly, however, it adds that the raids
were carried out as part of the newly announced “Answer the Call” campaign.
This moniker is in reference to a recent speech made
by the official Islamic State spokesman, Abu Hamza al-Quraishi. As part of his
Oct. 18 speech, al-Quraishi praised the Islamic State Khorasan Province’s Aug.
2 prison break in Jalalabad, Afghanistan.
In referring to that assault, al-Quraishi further
called on members and supporters to conduct similar operations around the world.
It is not just the Islamic State tying yesterday’s
prison break in the DRC to al-Quraishi’s call to action. Shortly after the
attack, the ADF directly linked its operation to the speech.
In a message regarding the attack on its private
social media channel, the ADF acknowledged al-Quraishi’s recent speech with
that “Abu Hamza al-Quraishi said the Khalifah [referring to current Islamic
State emir Abu Ibrahim al-Hashimi al-Quraishi] advises all mujahidin to set
their eyes on breaking the walls of prisons and free our brothers.”
The statement, shared with FDD’s Long War Journal by
the Bridgeway Foundation, also added that “he [Abu Hamza al-Quraishi] said the
conquest over lands comes after prisons are destroyed and brothers are set free
to join hands in destroying the Tawaghit [tyrant] oppressors and their
fortifications.”
Both groups have now drawn a direct line between
yesterday’s prison break and al-Quraishi’s recent address. It is clear that
this is part of an ongoing trend in which Islamic State leaders have urged more
jailbreaks in speeches and messages which have then correlated with attacks on
the ground.