Victor Ezeja
Russia has charged to court, four men suspected to have carried out the attack that killed over 130 people during a concert at the Crocus City Hall in Moscow on Friday.
The four suspects identified by Russian authorities as Dalerdzhon Mirzoyev, Saidakrami Murodali Rachabalizoda, Shamsidin Fariduni and Muhammadsobir Fayzov, were reportedly arrested in the Bryansk region about 14 hours after the attack, Russia’s Federal Security Service (FSB) said. Bryansk is around 400km (250 miles) south-west of Moscow.
Join our WhatsApp ChannelAccording to TASS, Russia’s state news agency, the suspects, who appeared in court on Sunday, were all identified as citizens of Tajikistan.
Russian security officials also arrested 13 other people suspected of aiding the attack.
Islamic State (IS) group has claimed responsibility for the attack and posted a video as evidence.
Four attackers opened fire on about 6,000 people at a rock concert on Friday night at the Crocus City Hall in Krasnogorsk, a neighborhood of northern Moscow. The assailants also set fire which spread across the venue and brought the roof down.
READ ALSO: At Least 133 Killed, Over 100 Wounded In Moscow Concert Terror Attack
More than 100 people were hurt, with 60 of them in critical condition, according to Russian police, who also reported 137 deaths.
Russian President while reacting to the incident accused Ukraine of being involved in the incident, however, without evidence.
Responding, Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky dismissed the claim and told Putin to focus on addressing the problem instead of blaming it on Ukraine.
Pictures and videos that went viral on Monday showed the faces of two of the suspects appeared to be swollen, dark eyes, apparently from brutal beatings during interrogation. Some of the videos showed that at least one had suffered electric shock.
According to Reuters, one of the suspects appeared to have an eye missing.
Meanwhile, prior, to the attack, the United States had warned Russia about a possible attack on a large gathering in Moscow.
However, the Kremlin dismissed it merely as propaganda.
Why Targeting Russia?
Analysts have said Russia is considered a primary target by IS for some reasons, including the country’s role in degrading the terrorist group’s base in Syria, the Soviet-era invasion of Afghanistan, and a couple of other conflicts.
Victor Ezeja is a passionate journalist with seven years of experience writing on economy, politics and energy. He holds a Master's degree in Mass Communication.
