Russian authorities have arrested a suspected “financier” of the deadly concert hall attack that occurred last week, with claims that Ukraine had paid “large amounts” to the perpetrators. The Investigative Committee in Russia stated that a suspect involved in financing the terrorist scheme was detained and placed in pre-trial detention. A total of eight other defendants in the ongoing terrorism investigation were remanded into custody by Moscow’s Basmanny District Court. The attack at Crocus City Hall on Friday evening resulted in gunfire and a fire that killed at least 143 people and injured hundreds more.
ISIS-K, the Islamic State affiliate, has claimed responsibility for the attack, making it the deadliest in Russia since the 2004 Beslan school siege. Social media channels linked to the militant group have shared graphic videos of the gunmen carrying out the mass killing. Despite this, top Russian officials, including Vladimir Putin, have suggested that Ukraine and the West played a role in the attack, but have not presented concrete evidence to support this claim. The Investigative Committee in Russia stated on Thursday that they had received information indicating that the perpetrators of the attack received significant amounts of money and cryptocurrency from Ukraine to prepare for the crime.
The connection between the detained terrorists and Ukrainian nationalists was reportedly discovered through an examination of their electronic devices and an analysis of their financial transactions. However, Ukraine and its Western allies have dismissed these accusations as propaganda. The U.S. National Security Council spokesman, John Kirby, criticized Russia’s claims, comparing them to “nonsense propaganda.” He noted the lack of evidence to support Russia’s accusations and emphasized the importance of factual information in such serious matters. The ongoing dispute between Russia and Ukraine over the attack has further strained relations between the two countries.
The arrests made by Russian authorities in connection with the concert hall attack have shed light on the alleged involvement of Ukraine and its role in financing the perpetrators. The investigation into the terrorist attack is continuing, with additional suspects being detained and questioned. The claim made by Russia, without concrete evidence, that Ukraine played a part in the attack has been met with skepticism by Western allies and has sparked a war of words between the two countries. The aftermath of the deadly attack has raised concerns about the rise of extremism and terrorism in the region and has heightened tensions between Russia and Ukraine.
The deadly attack at Crocus City Hall has been linked to ISIS-K, with the group claiming responsibility for the mass killing. Graphic videos of the gunmen committing the attack have circulated on social media, contributing to the shock and outrage over the incident. The lack of concrete evidence to support Russia’s claims of Ukrainian involvement has drawn criticism from Western allies, who have dismissed the accusations as propaganda. The ongoing investigation and arrests related to the attack have fueled the dispute between Russia and Ukraine, highlighting the complexities and challenges in addressing terrorism and extremism in the region. The aftermath of the attack has left many questioning the motives and implications of the perpetrators and their alleged supporters.
