Days after the massacre in Moscow on Friday, Russian authorities have detained 11 people in connection with the attack carried out by armed individuals who stormed the "Crocus City Hall," firing at attendees and then setting the building on fire, resulting in at least 139 casualties. Officials expect the death toll to rise as rescue teams continue to search for victims' bodies at the site, while 97 people remain in the hospital.
Russian President Vladimir Putin acknowledged on Monday for the first time that what he referred to as "Islamic extremists" were behind the attack that targeted the concert hall in Moscow, but he emphasized their connection to Ukraine, a claim Kyiv denies. During a televised meeting, the Russian president stated, "We know that the crime was committed by Islamic extremists who have been fighting the ideology of the Islamic world for centuries."
However, he pointed out that "many questions" remain unanswered, including why the attackers attempted to flee to Ukraine, as Kyiv denies any involvement in the attack. Putin noted, "It is crucial to answer the question of why the terrorists, after committing their crime, attempted to head to Ukraine. Who were they expecting there?" He added, "This atrocity may just be a link in a series of attempts by those who have been at war with our country since 2014," referring to Ukraine and its allies.
Ukraine has denied any involvement in the attack and described the Russian accusations as absurd. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said in his evening remarks on Monday, "Putin is talking to himself again, and he aired that again on television. He is once again blaming Ukraine."
Since Friday, ISIS has repeatedly claimed responsibility for the attack, and the organization’s media outlets have released videos of the assailants inside the site. When asked about ISIS's claim of responsibility, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov stated on Monday that the investigation is still ongoing.
Suspects in Court
On Monday, the Kremlin expressed confidence in the country's security agencies as questions arise about how they failed to prevent the massacre despite public and covert warnings from U.S. intelligence. The four suspects, whose faces were swollen and bore bruises and wounds, were led into the Basman District Court in the capital in the presence of dozens of journalists, where proceedings took place late into the night and continued into the early hours of the morning.
Federal Security Service officials brought one suspect in on a wheelchair, who was barely able to open his eyes. Peskov declined to comment on reports and video recordings circulating on social media showing violent interrogation methods used on the suspects after their arrest on Saturday.
