The Investigative Committee of the Russian Federation reported today that it is checking whether Islamic terrorist organizations and Ukrainian special services are involved in organizing Moscow attack.
The agency indicated on its Telegram channel that “the application of a set of investigative and operational measures is continuing to verify the involvement of representatives of the Ukrainian special services and international Islamic terrorist organizations in organizing and financing the attack.”
The entity also revealed that the investigation was able to obtain data from the mobile phones of those accused of the attack, despite the attackers’ attempt to destroy the devices.
Investigators discover that Crocus City Hall was attacked at the request of the supervisor directing the terrorists' actions.
“On February 24, 2024, the anniversary of the start of the special military operation in Ukraine, an accomplice, under the direction of the supervisor, found websites and sent him snapshots of photos of entrances to the Crocus City Hall building and access routes,” the report said.
The Russian organization said that these statements were confirmed by the accused in his testimony.
“Photographs of people in camouflage uniforms with the Ukrainian flag against the background of destroyed houses and a Ukrainian postmark with an obscene gesture were found on the terrorist’s phone. The specific data may indicate a connection between the committed terrorist act and the special military operation,” the memorandum notes.
On March 22, armed commandos opened fire on a crowd of people gathering for a rock concert at Krokos City Hall, northwest of Moscow, and set the venue on fire. According to the latest official data, the terrorist attack left 144 dead, including six children, and more than 550 injured.
So far, 19 suspects have been arrested in Russia, including the four attackers who opened fire at Crocus City Hall. Precautionary measure in the form of pre-trial detention has already been issued for 10 of them.
In addition, nine people were arrested in Tajikistan on suspicion of having links to the perpetrators of the attack.
Russian President Vladimir Putin admitted that the attack was the work of Islamic extremists, but assumed that it might be an episode in a series of operations carried out against Russia since 2014 “at the hands of the neo-Nazi regime in Kiev.”
According to the Russian Federal Security Service, after the attack, the terrorists tried to flee towards the border between Russia and Ukraine. However, Ukraine categorically denied involvement in the attack.
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