Struggling ISIS Claims Responsibility for Vendor's Tipped Over Hot Dog Cart

UNDISCLOSED, SYRIA—As the extremist terror organization loses territory in Iraq and Syria, along with staggering recruitment over the last few years, the group known as ISIS have lost the resources they once had to carry out larger-scale attacks. They have specifically struggled to carry out any significant attacks on U.S. soil, a stated aim of the group that hopes to some day bring about an all-out "holy war" between Islamists and "nonbelievers." Despite their claiming responsibility for several smaller attacks, U.S. analysts find little to no evidence that these "lone-wolf" attacks had any ties to the terrorists.

In the most recent and bizarre of these cases, ISIS, which stands for the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria, has claimed responsibility for an incident that took place in New York City this week. According to authorities, at approximately 3:12 p.m. on Thursday, a suspect approached a hot dog vendor and shouted profanities at customers and passersby before violently tipping the stand over, spilling the all-beef wieners, buns, and condiments on the sidewalk. The suspect then meandered away on foot while witnesses called police. There were no reported injuries.

As police searched for the perpetrator, ISIS apparently claimed responsibility for the event through a social media account that is linked to a terrorist cell somewhere in Syria. The first post came just minutes after the attack, but included no details, calling into question whether the extremist group was familiar with the nature of the disturbance at all. "We claim in Allah's great name this attack on New York," read the post exactly 11 minutes after the first phone call to police was made. "These attacks will not stop until the evil Satan USA is brought to its knees."

These posts continued every few minutes and began to take on a slightly different tone as the afternoon wore on and the details of the attack were more publicized. "It was Allah's judgement that this symbol of American greed was destroyed," read the post 2 minutes after the first reports explained that a business had been destroyed.

At 3:34 p.m., the first video of the event was posted to YouTube by a witness to the event. It clearly showed the incident was a hot dog stand. The ISIS-owned social media account was silent for a full 12 minutes before then posting, "It was Allah's will that this be done. His wisdom is infinite in passing righteous judgement on these lukewarm frankfurters, and complete lack of dill relish."

Ahmed Kassis, 41, the owner of the hot dog stand, expressed his doubts that ISIS was responsible for the property loss. "The guy didn't say anything to me about any revenge or Allah's will. He was muttering something about the IRS and United Nations. You ask me, I think he was just crazy." Kassis, a native of Saudi Arabia who has been in the U.S. since 1994, said. "I myself am Muslim! Why would Allah be displeased with my hot dog stand? I serve only all-beef, and I offer a wide variety of condiments, including freshly diced onions, hot peppers, and deli mustard."

The social media community and news outlets were quick to question ISIS's claims, suggesting that the group had been too quick to claim responsibility before knowing the details of the so-called attack. However, the posts to that account only doubled down. "Let this be a warning to all infidel New Yorkers," read a post at 4:15 p.m. "Your foil-wrapped, boiled and breaded meals will be your last! We can strik[e] you anytime and anywhere!"

Kassis reports that, aside from about $30 in lost goods, and spending an extra 25 minutes cleaning and sanitizing the stand, there was no damage done to him or his cart.

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