On March 22, a tragic incident unfolded at the Crocus City concert hall near Moscow. Gunmen opened fire, setting the venue ablaze and wounding 80 people. The horrifying attack resulted in the loss of 143 lives.
The Islamic State (IS) group swiftly claimed responsibility for this heinous act. However, Moscow authorities have consistently asserted that the attackers had links to “Ukrainian nationalists”, a claim that Kyiv vehemently denies.
In a recent development, four IS members involved in the attack have been apprehended. These suspects, including four individuals from Tajikistan, are accused of carrying out the assault. Russian state media reports that a total of 12 people have been detained and eight charged with “terror-related offenses” in connection with the tragedy.
The operation to capture the attackers involved both ground and air forces. The men were eventually surrounded in a forest, leading to their captivity. A Moscow court has remanded the four main suspects in custody until May 22, a date likely to be extended until their trial.
Russia has been a repeated target of IS attacks, often in retaliation for its actions in suppressing unrest in Muslim-majority regions and supporting President Bashar al-Assad’s government in the Syrian civil war.
