Russia has raised doubts regarding the United States' assertion that the Islamic State militant group was responsible for a tragic gun attack at a concert hall near Moscow, resulting in the loss of 137 lives and leaving 182 others injured.
The incident unfolded within Russia's borders, where four assailants stormed the Crocus City Hall during a Friday night event. They indiscriminately fired upon attendees, just moments before the scheduled performance by the renowned Soviet-era rock band Picnic and their popular song "Afraid of Nothing."
Following the attack, four individuals, including at least one Tajik national, were detained under terrorism charges. They were presented separately at Moscow's Basmanny district court, escorted by officers from the Federal Security Service.
While the Islamic State claimed responsibility for the assault, an assertion the United States publicly supported, the group purportedly released footage of the incident. American officials claimed to have alerted Russia about intelligence indicating an impending attack earlier in the month.
However, President Vladimir Putin refrained from directly linking the attackers to the Islamist militant organization. Instead, he stated that the assailants were attempting to flee to Ukraine, insinuating complicity from individuals on the Ukrainian side in aiding their escape. Ukraine vehemently denied any involvement, with President Volodymyr Zelenskiy accusing Putin of attempting to deflect blame.
Russia's Foreign Ministry spokesperson, Maria Zakharova, challenged the U.S. narrative attributing the attack to the Islamic State. In an article for the Komsomolskaya Pravda newspaper, she questioned whether the White House was certain of the group's involvement and suggested revisiting the assessment.
Zakharova criticized the United States for allegedly utilizing the specter of the Islamic State as a cover for its interests in Kyiv, drawing parallels to American support for mujahideen fighters during the Soviet-Afghan War in the 1980s.
Despite assertions by U.S. officials confirming the Islamic State's claim of responsibility, Russian authorities detained a total of 11 individuals, including the four suspected gunmen. These perpetrators reportedly fled the scene and sought refuge in the Bryansk region, aiming to cross into Ukraine.
Videos circulating on social media purportedly showed the interrogation of the suspects, with one displaying signs of physical abuse. Among them, Dalerdzhon Mirzoyev and Saidakrami Rachabalizoda, both from Tajikistan, appeared in court with visible injuries. Muhammadsobir Fayzov, clad in hospital attire, and Shamsiddin Fariduni, bearing bruises, also faced charges related to terrorism.
The tragic incident occurred against the backdrop of heightened tensions between Russia and Ukraine. President Putin's decision to launch a full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 intensified the conflict, drawing significant support from the U.S. and its European allies for Ukraine's defense efforts.
In response to the Moscow shootings, the French government announced an elevation of its terror alert level to the highest tier, underscoring the global ramifications of such acts of violence.
