The Islamic State group has claimed responsibility for the horrific attack at the Crocus City concert hall near Moscow on March 22, where gunmen opened fire, set the venue ablaze, and left 143 people dead. This revelation comes as Moscow authorities have arrested four individuals linked to the IS group in connection with the attack.
The gunmen’s assault on the concert hall also resulted in 80 people sustaining injuries. Moscow has detained a total of 12 individuals and charged eight of them with “terror-related offenses” related to their alleged roles in the attack. Among those charged are four suspects from Tajikistan who are accused of carrying out the deadly assault, according to Russian state media reports.
While the Islamic State swiftly claimed responsibility for the attack, Moscow has repeatedly asserted that the perpetrators had ties to “Ukrainian nationalists,” a claim that Kyiv vehemently denies.
In the latest issue of its weekly Al-Nabaa magazine published on Telegram channels, the Islamic State detailed how its fighters were pursued and ultimately apprehended by ground and air forces. The operation concluded with the suspects being surrounded in a forest and taken into custody by authorities.
A Moscow court has ordered the four main suspects to remain in custody until May 22, with the likelihood of extension pending their trial.
Russia has faced numerous attacks from the Islamic State as retaliation for its actions in suppressing unrest in Muslim-majority regions and supporting President Bashar al-Assad’s government in the Syrian civil war. The recent arrest of individuals linked to IS underscores the ongoing threat posed by extremist groups and the challenges faced in combating terrorism on a global scale.
Sources By Agencies
