MOSCOW: , Russia announced the arrest of all four gunmen suspected of perpetrating a shooting massacre in a concert hall near Moscow. President Vladimir Putin vowed to apprehend and punish those responsible for the attack, which was claimed by the militant Islamist group Islamic State (IS). Despite initial indications pointing towards a Ukrainian connection, Ukrainian officials vehemently denied any involvement.
Moscow regional Governor Andrei Vorobyov reported the recovery of 133 bodies in the past 24 hours, with 107 individuals still in critical condition. However, State TV editor Margarita Simonyan had earlier mentioned a toll of 143 without specifying her source.
In a televised statement, Putin disclosed that 11 individuals had been detained, including the four gunmen. He mentioned that they attempted to flee towards Ukraine, where there were alleged preparations for their escape across the border. Russia’s FSB security service claimed that the gunmen had ties in Ukraine and were apprehended near the border, with plans to transfer them to Moscow.
Although neither Putin nor the FSB provided evidence of a Ukrainian link, tensions between Russia and Ukraine escalated. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy dismissed Putin’s assertions as an attempt to divert blame, emphasizing that Ukraine was focused on defending its sovereignty from Russian aggression.
The Islamic State’s claim of responsibility aligned with its past actions against Russia, particularly stemming from Russia’s involvement in Syria’s civil war. Putin condemned the attack as an act of “international terrorism” and expressed readiness to collaborate with any nation to combat such threats.
Western nations, including the United States, condemned the attack and extended sympathy to the Russian people. The White House clarified that the U.S. had shared information with Russia about a potential attack but stressed that Islamic State was solely responsible, refuting any Ukrainian involvement.
Video footage depicted the gunmen unleashing gunfire in the concert hall, prompting a chaotic evacuation as attendees fled for safety. Investigations revealed casualties from gunshot wounds and a subsequent fire ignited by the attackers. The tragic scene included mothers found embracing their children amid the chaos.
Russian authorities pursued the attackers, leading to a confrontation in the Bryansk region where one assailant was killed. A recovered passport identified him as a 30-year-old Tajikistani citizen, highlighting the international dimensions of the incident.
