For a long time, Moscow had pointed out Ukraine’s responsibility… But for the first time, Russia clearly recognized, on Friday May 24, the responsibility of the Islamic State (IS) organization in the attack on Crocus City Hall, which left at least 144 dead on March 22.
“During the investigation […]it was established that the preparations, financing, attack and withdrawal of terrorists were coordinated via the Internet by members of the Khorasan Province group, the Afghan branch of ISIS, said the director of the Russian security services. security (FSB), Alexander Bortnikov, quoted by the RIA Novosti agency.
The worst attack committed in Russia since 2004
On March 22, gunmen opened fire at Crocus City Hall, a concert hall on the northwest outskirts of the Russian capital, before setting it on fire. This attack left at least 144 dead and 360 injured, the worst attack committed in Russia since 2004. More than 20 people have been arrested since, including the four alleged attackers, all from Tajikistan, the former Soviet republic of Central Asia. neighboring Afghanistan.
Although the attack was quickly claimed by the jihadist organization Islamic State, Russian authorities continued to see the hand of Ukraine in it. kyiv has always categorically rejected any involvement.
At the end of March, Russian President Vladimir Putin admitted that the attack had been committed by “radical Islamists”, but continued to imply that kyiv was the sponsor. If he attributed the coordination of the attack to ISIS on Friday, Alexandre Bortnikov once again pointed out the presumed role of Ukrainian intelligence. “The investigation continues, but we can already say with certainty that Ukrainian military intelligence is directly involved in the attack,” he said.