MOSCOW: Russian investigators revealed on Friday that one of the attackers involved in last month’s tragic massacre at a Moscow concert hall, claimed by the Islamic State (IS), had pro-Ukrainian content on his phone.
This revelation adds a new dimension to the ongoing investigation into the deadly attack, which killed over 140 people.
Despite IS claiming responsibility for the March 22 attack, Moscow has persistently attempted to implicate Kyiv and the West, alleging their involvement in the incident. However, both Ukraine and Western nations have vehemently denied any connection to the attack, accusing Moscow of exploiting the tragedy for political purposes.
According to Russian investigators, data retrieved from the suspect’s phone showed that on February 24, the second anniversary of Russia’s military campaign in Ukraine, he searched for photographs of the Crocus City Hall and shared them with others. Additionally, photos depicting men holding the Ukrainian flag in front of destroyed buildings were found on the same device, suggesting a potential link between the attack and the conflict in Ukraine.
The United States revealed that it had issued warnings to Russia in early March about potential extremist threats targeting a concert hall in Moscow, specifically mentioning the Crocus City Hall. However, Russia dismissed these warnings, with President Vladimir Putin accusing Washington of “blackmail” just days before the tragic incident occurred.
