MOSCOW: Russia’s FSB security service has said that four people arrested Sunday in a foiled “terror” plot had provided money and arms for the deadly attack on a Moscow concert hall last month. The attack, which resulted in over 140 casualties, marked one of the most devastating incidents in Russia in the past two decades.
According to statements released by the FSB, the apprehended group of four was detained in the southern region of Dagestan. They are believed to have played a direct role in providing support to the perpetrators of the attack on March 22nd. The suspects, identified as foreign nationals, were captured in a coordinated operation in the regional capital Makhachkala and the nearby town of Kaspiysk.
Moscow Concert Hall Attack
The FSB disclosed that one of the arrested persons confessed to facilitating the supply of weapons to the assailants responsible for the assault on Crocus City Hall. The suspects’ involvement adds to the ongoing investigation into the attack, which has already led to the arrest of 12 persons allegedly connected to the incident, including the four gunmen.
While the Islamic State (IS) has claimed responsibility for the massacre, President Vladimir Putin has suggested a potential Ukrainian and Western involvement, a claim refuted by Kyiv and Western authorities who have denied any connection to the attack.
The FSB’s handling of the attack has come under scrutiny, particularly in light of prior warnings from the US intelligence community regarding potential extremist threats targeting large gatherings in Moscow. Despite these warnings, the agency failed to prevent the assault, prompting questions about its effectiveness in counterterrorism efforts.
