BuzzFeed
Experts say the group is trying to counter its diminished status by playing up its reputation to its remaining followers.
"ISIS’s claim of responsibility for the Las Vegas shooting was driven less by a desire to strike fear into the US than wanting to show its supporters that it remains relevant, experts say, dismissing the the militant group’s claim that it had influenced the shooter in the months beforehand.
"US officials, including the FBI and Las Vegas sheriff's department, have said they have no evidence to tie the shooting, which was carried out by 64-year-old Stephen Paddock and left more than 50 people dead, to ISIS. "We have determined to this point no connection with an international terrorist group," FBI investigator Aaron Rouse told reporters Monday.
"But the group has doubled down on its claim — releasing a statement and video, even going so far as to provide an alleged nom de guerre used by Paddock.
"If no evidence emerges to show that Paddock really was an ISIS agent, there’s no shortage of reasons for ISIS to lay claim to the attack. ISIS currently has a "faltering brand," said Herbie Tinsley, a researcher with the University of Maryland's National Consortium for the Study of Terrorism and Responses to Terrorism (START), and that could have spurred them to jump on the news from Las Vegas." . . .
This is what ISIS does, isn't it?
. . . "By 3pm local time, Clark County Coroner John Fundenberg said that all of the confirmed fatalities had 'been recovered and transported to our office'.
"As of Monday evening, the casualty count stood at 527 injured and 59 dead. It was unclear whether the number of dead included Paddock, who killed himself as police breached his 32nd-floor sniper's nest. " . . .
"Blood stains and medical trauma treatment supplies lie in the street in the aftermath of the mass shooting at the Route 91 Harvest festival on Las Vegas Boulevard."
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