The terrorist militia “Islamic State” (IS) has published scenes of the attack on the “Crocus City Hall” near Moscow on its Telegram channels. The approximately one and a half minute long video shows a close-up of one of the shooters opening fire on several people in what appears to be a large concert hall.
ISIS is probably reacting to Russian accusations against Ukraine and trying to prove its own responsibility for the attack on Friday evening, in which more than 130 people were killed. According to information from Moscow, more than 100 were seriously injured. During the attack there were explosions, fires broke out and the roof of the building finally collapsed.
As the Time reported, the environment in which the video was recorded should match other recordings from the attack site. There are indications that the “Islamic State in Khorasan”, an IS offshoot based in Afghanistan, was the perpetrator. Russian Islamists are also fighting in the terrorist organization. There is also a Caucasian IS group.
Russian President Vladimir Putin accused Ukraine of complicity despite a letter of responsibility from the so-called Islamic State. The four arrested perpetrators allegedly wanted to flee there. According to Russian information, they are said to have had contacts in Ukraine. Kyiv rejected this. Washington also assumes an IS attack. There was no Ukrainian involvement, said US National Security Council spokeswoman Adrienne Watson.
The U.S. government provided Russia with information about a planned attack in Moscow earlier this month; the U.S. Embassy in Moscow issued a public warning to Americans in Russia on March 7 that extremists were planning to attack large gatherings in Moscow; including concerts. In a speech, Putin dismissed the warning as a Western provocation.