MOSCOW (Sputnik) — Initially, the official said, ISIL was believed to be focused more on attacks involving one or a small number of attackers, while mass casualty attacks were typical for al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP).
The suspected change in the nature of ISIL attacks is reportedly driven partially by a competition between Islamic State and AQAP when recruiting new members.
Islamic State is primarily operating in Iraq and Syria, where it has seized large territories, on which it seeks to impose strict Sharia law. The militant group aims to branch out to other countries and has carried out attacks in Europe.
ISIL is known to be recruiting new members via an extensive use of online propaganda, enticing new members from the West through social media.
