In connection to the recent violent incident at a concert venue in suburban Moscow that resulted in the loss of 144 lives, the state security service of Tajikistan has apprehended nine individuals suspected of associating with the perpetrators, as reported by the Russian state news agency RIA Novosti on Friday.
According to undisclosed sources within Tajikistan’s special services, nine individuals from the Vakhdat district have been detained for their alleged involvement with the individuals responsible for the terrorist attack at Crocus City Hall on March 22. The operation to detain these suspects reportedly involved Russian security forces as well.
The detained individuals are also under suspicion of having affiliations with the Islamic State group, as indicated by RIA Novosti. Meanwhile, Russia’s Investigative Committee announced on Thursday the detention of another individual suspected of aiding in the financing of the attack at Crocus City Hall. However, further details regarding the identity and actions of this suspect were not disclosed.
Previously, Russian authorities stated that a total of 11 suspects had been apprehended, including four believed to have directly participated in the attack. These four individuals, identified as Tajik nationals, appeared in a Moscow court on terrorism charges, exhibiting signs of severe physical abuse. Notably, one of them appeared barely conscious during the court proceedings.
Although a faction of the Islamic State group has claimed responsibility for the massacre, Russian officials, led by President Vladimir Putin, have continuously asserted, albeit without presenting evidence, that Ukraine and Western entities played a role in the attack. The Investigative Committee’s statement indicated that there is evidence suggesting that the perpetrators of the terrorist attack received substantial financial support, including cryptocurrency, from Ukraine, which was allegedly utilized in planning the crime.
Ukraine has vehemently denied any involvement, asserting that Moscow is leveraging these accusations as a pretext to escalate hostilities in Ukraine. The death toll from the attack continues to climb, with the number of fatalities reaching 144 on Friday following the demise of a critically injured victim in a hospital, according to Russian Health Minister Mikhail Murashko.
