The terrorist organization “Islamic State” (IS) has released a video showing the alleged attackers in the attack on a concert hall Moscow should show. A “news agency” attributed to IS distributed the video with the addition that it was an “exclusive scene.” In view of Russian claims about Ukraine’s alleged complicity in the attack, the publication is apparently an attempt by IS to prove its own responsibility for the terrorist act that probably left more than 130 dead.
In fact, the video footage was previously unknown. ZEIT ONLINE has it. The 90-second recording was published on the same channels on which IS had already claimed responsibility for the attack in writing on Friday evening. Terror experts believe the letter of responsibility is authentic.
Video matches footage from the attack site
The now released video shows several armed terrorists whose faces were blurred and whose voices were distorted, presumably during the attack. You can see, among other things, how one of the men shoots people with an automatic rifle and a second man kills a seriously injured person lying on the ground. The surroundings seen in the video, such as stairs and walls, match other footage of the attack site.
Russia’s President Wladimir Putin and the Russian domestic secret service had claimed Ukraine’s alleged involvement in the attack, despite the IS letter claiming responsibility. The arrested attackers wanted to flee to the neighboring country.
The Ukraine vehemently rejects the Russian allegations. The Ukrainian military intelligence agency HUR said it was “another lie from the Russian secret service.” The day after the attack, the US government also reiterated that, in its assessment, IS was solely responsible for the crime. There was no Ukrainian involvement, said National Security Council spokeswoman Adrienne Watson. She again referred to information about a planned attack in the Russian capital region that the US government had already received at the beginning of the month and shared with Russia at the time.
According to Russian authorities, at least 133 people were killed and numerous others injured in the attack on the Crocus City Hall in the Moscow suburb of Krasnogorsk on Friday evening. Russian state media sometimes reported at least 143 people killed.
The terrorist organization “Islamic State” (IS) has released a video showing the alleged attackers in the attack on a concert hall Moscow should show. A “news agency” attributed to IS distributed the video with the addition that it was an “exclusive scene.” In view of Russian claims about Ukraine’s alleged complicity in the attack, the publication is apparently an attempt by IS to prove its own responsibility for the terrorist act that probably left more than 130 dead.