MOSCOW: The Islamic State (ISIS) group said Friday four of its members had been arrested after they attacked a concert hall near Moscow killing 143 people, a day after Russia blamed Ukraine.
The attack occurred on March 22, when gunmen opened fire at the Crocus City concert hall, causing chaos and setting the venue ablaze, leaving 80 persons wounded. Russian authorities immediately initiated investigations into the incident, leading to the detention of 12 persons, eight of whom have been charged with “terror-related offenses” in connection to the attack. Among the suspects are four persons from Tajikistan, who are accused of carrying out the assault, as reported by Russian state media.
While ISIS has claimed responsibility for the attack, Russian authorities have repeatedly asserted that the assailants had ties to “Ukrainian nationalists,” a claim that has been refuted by Ukrainian authorities.
In the latest edition of its weekly Al-Nabaa magazine, distributed on Telegram channels, Daesh disclosed details of the operation, stating that its fighters were pursued by ground and air forces before being surrounded in a forest, ultimately resulting in their capture.
The suspects are currently in custody and are expected to remain so until their trial, with the possibility of extension of their detention.
