terrorism
Moscow reports three new arrests after terrorist attack
The location of the attack: The Crocus City Hall concert hall in Moscow. photo
© Bai Xueqi/XinHua/dpa
Russian authorities continue to search for those behind the serious attack in Moscow. President Putin said Islamists had no reason to attack Russia.
After the terrorist attack of In Moscow, with more than 140 dead, the Russian domestic secret service FSB says it has arrested three more suspected accomplices. Two of those arrested are said to have transferred money to buy weapons and cars, the FSB said.
According to the investigation, the third man is said to be involved in recruiting accomplices and financing terrorists. According to the information, all three detainees came from Central Asia, although one had a Russian passport. Moscow, Yekaterinburg and Omsk were named as the places of arrest.
At least 144 dead and around 550 injured
On March 22, four men shot and set fire to the Crocus City Hall concert hall on the outskirts of Moscow. At least 144 people were killed and around 550 people were injured in what was the worst terrorist attack in Russia in years. The four suspected shooters were arrested the next day. There were later over a dozen additional arrests of suspected supporters. According to state media, the suspects mostly come from Tajikistan in Central Asia.
The terrorist group Islamic State (IS) has claimed responsibility for the attack in several embassies. However, the Russian authorities insist on the assumption that Ukraine or its Western supporters are the actual masterminds behind IS. The terrorists wanted to undermine the exemplary coexistence of different peoples and religions in Russia, said President Vladimir Putin on Thursday. Putin provided no evidence for the claims.
There are repeated attacks by extremist Islamists in Russia
“Russia cannot be the target of terrorist attacks by Islamist fundamentalists,” said the Kremlin chief. He ignores the fact that there have been repeated attacks by extremist Islamists in Russia since the 2000s. Russian troops were also involved in the fight against IS in Syria. Experts also point out that as a result of its previous wars in the Russian republic of Chechnya in the North Caucasus, Russia still has many enemies in the country itself who have become radicalized.