Russia expressed scepticism on Monday regarding the United State’s assertion that the Islamic State militant group was responsible for a deadly gun assault at a concert hall near Moscow. The attack, which occurred on Friday night, resulted in the deaths of 137 individuals and left 182 others injured.
In the most devastating attack within Russia in two decades, four assailants stormed the Crocus City Hall, opening fire on attendees just before the Soviet-era rock band Picnic was scheduled to perform their famous song “Afraid of Nothing.”
Four men, including at least one from Tajikistan, have been detained on terrorism charges. They were individually brought before Moscow’s Basmanny district court, escorted by Federal Security Service officials.
Although the Islamic State has claimed responsibility for the attack, a claim endorsed by the United States based on publicly available intelligence, President Vladimir Putin has refrained from directly linking the assailants to the Islamist militant group. Instead, Putin asserted that the attackers were attempting to flee to Ukraine.
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In response to the US claim, Russia’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson, Maria Zakharova, raised doubts about the designation of the Islamic State as the perpetrator.
Zakharova stated the USA was spreading a model of the “bogeyman” of Islamic State to cover its “wards” in Kyiv and reminded readers that Washington supported the “mujahideen” fighters who fought Soviet forces within the 1980s.
The U.S. has intelligence confirming Islamic State’s declaration of accountability, two U.S. officers stated on Friday.
Putin claims eleven folks were detained, together with four gunmen
Putin announced that 11 individuals had been apprehended, including the four suspected gunmen, who fled the concert hall and travelled to the Bryansk region, approximately 340km (210 miles) southwest of Moscow, to cross into Ukraine.
Unverified videos depicting the interrogation of the suspects circulated on social media. One of the suspects was shown with a portion of his ear severed and placed in his mouth.
Among the detainees, Dalerdzhon Mirzoyev, a Tajik national, leaned against the glass enclosure as the terrorism charges were read aloud. Another detainee, Saidakrami Rachabalizoda, sat with his ear bandaged.
Muhammadsobir Fayzov appeared in oversized hospital attire and was seated in a medical chair with his face bearing cuts. Shamsiddin Fariduni, with bruising on his face, stood nearby.
Putin’s order for a full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 sparked a major European conflict following eight years of warfare in eastern Ukraine involving Ukrainian forces, pro-Russian Ukrainians, and Russian proxies.
The United States and its European allies have backed Ukraine, providing substantial financial aid, weaponry, and intelligence to counter Russian forces.
Following the Moscow shootings, the French government announced late on Sunday that it was raising its terrorism alert level to its highest degree.
Putin has pledged to bring those responsible for the massacre at the Russian concert hall to justice.
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