Russia Terrorist Attack:
Russian President Vladimir Putin on Monday (March 25) claimed that the gunmen who attacked a concert hall in a Moscow suburb last week were ‘Islamic radicals’.
In a meeting with government officials, Putin said the killings were carried out by Islamic extremists. Putin said last weekend that four attackers were arrested while trying to flee Ukraine. The Russian President once again avoided mentioning the Islamic State in his remarks on Monday.
Putin said – terrorists fled to Ukraine after the attack
Vladimir Putin said it was necessary to find out “why the terrorists tried to flee to Ukraine after committing their crime and who was waiting for them there.”
After the IS affiliate took responsibility, the US had termed the terrorist organization’s claim as correct. French President Emmanuel Macron said that according to the intelligence available with France, the ‘IS unit’ is responsible for the Moscow attack.
Russia is refusing to blame IS for the attack
Earlier on Monday, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov refused to blame anyone and urged reporters to wait for the results of the investigation by Russian agencies. He also refused to comment on reports that the US had warned officials in Moscow about a possible terrorist attack on March 7. Peskov said such intelligence is confidential.
Four people arrested in connection with the attack on a Russian concert hall were presented in a Moscow court on Sunday and charged with terrorism. During the hearing, the accused also showed the court the marks of injury. One person was barely conscious.
137 people killed in Moscow attack
Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin said that the investigation is still going on but vowed that “the criminals will be punished, they do not deserve mercy.” Officials said that 137 people were killed and more than 180 were injured in the attack on Crocus City Hall on the western outskirts of Moscow on Friday night. He said that 97 people are still admitted in the hospital.