- IS-K claims responsibility for deadly Moscow concert hall attack; Russian authorities arrest 11 suspects, investigating possible Ukrainian connection.
- FSB apprehends suspects en route to Ukraine; Ukrainian officials deny involvement; ongoing investigation reveals Tajikistan passports among suspects’ belongings.
The Afghan branch of the Islamic State, IS-K, has asserted responsibility for a deadly shooting at a concert hall near Moscow, resulting in the deaths of at least 115 people. Russian authorities have apprehended 11 individuals, including four suspected gunmen, linked to the attack. Despite IS-K’s claim, there are indications of Russian authorities investigating a potential Ukrainian connection.
The FSB security service reported the arrest of all four terrorists en route to the Ukrainian border, revealing their connections in Ukraine. In response, Russian foreign ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova implicated Ukraine as a potential refuge for the attackers. However, Ukrainian presidential adviser Mykhailo Podolyak denied any involvement, emphasizing Kyiv’s innocence in the deadliest attack on Russian soil in two decades.
Russian lawmaker Andrei Kartapolov warned of a decisive response on the battlefield if Ukraine’s involvement is confirmed. The attack, characterized by gunmen opening fire on concertgoers with automatic weapons and igniting a massive fire, claimed numerous lives. Investigations revealed horrific scenes, including bodies discovered in restrooms and staircases, with reports of mothers found embracing their children in tragedy.
President Vladimir Putin was briefed on the arrest of the four terrorists and ongoing efforts to identify their accomplices by FSB chief Alexander Bortnikov. Russian lawmaker Alexander Khinshtein detailed the pursuit of the attackers, leading to the apprehension of two individuals following a car chase, while two others fled into a nearby forest. The discovery of a pistol, assault rifle magazine, and Tajikistan passports in the suspects’ vehicle added complexity to the ongoing investigation.
