As reported by the Kremlin on March 23, the Russian security forces have made a series of detentions in connection with the deadly shooting incident that occurred on March 22 at Crocus City Hall, just outside of Moscow. Officials say 11 individuals were detained, which includes the four main suspects.
The attack, launched by multiple shooters, left a tragic death toll of 115 and caused injuries to more than 120 people, with numbers provided by the Russian authorities being the most recent figures available.
Warnings had been issued by the U.S. Embassy in Russia on March 7 about potential extremist activities targeting large gatherings in Moscow. American nationals were advised to avoid populous venues for the ensuing 48 hours. Similar advisories came from other countries including the U.K., Canada, and Germany shortly after. However, these were dismissed by Russian President Vladimir Putin as Western ploys.
The apprehension of the suspects was conveyed to Putin by Alexander Bortnikov, director of the FSB, who also indicated an ongoing search for any possible collaborators. Following this, Russia’s Investigative Committee broadcasted on their Telegram channel the arrest of four individuals suspected of engaging in the shooting, this time specifying their location at the time of arrest close to Ukraine’s border in the Bryansk region.
Russian state media quoted the FSB stating the arrested had plans to flee to Ukraine and had established connections with Ukrainian contacts. The involvement of Ukraine in the attack has been insinuated by Russian officials, though without any substantiated evidence. Such allegations have been used to justify intensified attacks on Ukrainian territory.
These allegations have been outright refused by Kyiv, with corroboration from the White House stating no indications of Ukrainian involvement in the Moscow event exist.
Despite the Russian officials’ claims, the Kyiv Independent can not affirm the validity of these statements.
In a declaration post-attack, the Islamic State (IS) took responsibility for the incident. This claim was subsequently validated by U.S. officials.
Amidst the chaos of the incident, Dmitry Medvedev, former Russian President, spoke of repercussions against Ukraine if any connection with “terrorists of the Kyiv regime” was discovered.
The incident was labeled as a “planned provocation” by Putin’s intelligence services by Ukraine’s military intelligence (HUR), designed to bolster justification for harsher attacks on Ukraine and pave the way for total Russian mobilization.
The Ukrainian Ministry of Foreign Affairs condemned the assertions of Ukrainian participation and requested the global community to overlook such deceitful narratives. They considered these claims to be a deliberate provocation by the Kremlin aimed at inciting anti-Ukrainian sentiment in Russia and providing grounds for mobilizing Russian citizens against Ukraine, while tarnishing Ukraine’s global reputation.
The ministry further noted, “Putin’s dictatorship” has executed similar provocations before, as seen with the 1999 Kashirskoye highway terrorist attack. They mentioned Putin’s readiness to harm even Russian nationals for political objectives and cited the killings of thousands of Ukrainian civilians during the conflict as evidence of his ruthlessness.
Speculation persists whether the FSB and Putin were the true masterminds behind the 1999 apartment bombings in Moscow, which paved the way for the second Chechen war and purportedly increased Putin’s popularity.
Russia’s drift towards totalitarian control was also discussed, highlighting the progressive erosion of civil liberties and the state-sponsored promotion of aggressive nationalism over the years.
FAQ
How many people were involved in the Moscow concert shooting?
According to the Russian authorities, 11 people were detained, which includes four suspects directly involved in the shooting.
Were any warnings issued prior to the Moscow shooting?
The U.S. Embassy in Russia issued warnings of potential extremist plans to target large gatherings in Moscow on March 7. Similar advisories were issued by several other countries.
What has been the international reaction to the allegations of Ukrainian involvement in the shooting?
The international community, including the White House, has not found any indications to support the Russian claims of Ukrainian involvement in the Moscow shooting.
Has anyone claimed responsibility for the Moscow shooting?
Yes, the Islamic State (IS) claimed responsibility shortly after the attack, a claim that was confirmed by U.S. officials.
Has Russia faced similar incidents in the past?
Yes, notably the series of apartment bombings in 1999, which were blamed on Chechen separatists and have since been speculated to be a provocation by Putin and the FSB.
Conclusion
The operations by Russian security services following the mass shooting in Moscow have led to the detention of several suspects, igniting international attention and speculation. Despite the dissemination of information and claims by Russian officials, definitive evidence regarding the involvement of any party remains elusive. The incident not only stirs memories of former crises and speculated provocations within Russia but also highlights the complexity and the high-stakes nature of intelligence and counter-terrorism efforts in a global context. Supporting independent journalism remains a vital part of understanding such complicated and rapidly evolving situations.
Note: The information provided here is a rewritten version sourced from The Kyiv Independent and other sources, using AI news feed technology. The content is not produced by TheUBJ and original sources are cited for reference purposes.