MOSCOW — 

Four individuals believed to have been involved in the assault on a concert venue in the suburbs of Moscow were apprehended by the Russian authorities. The attack resulted in the tragic death of 133 individuals. President Vladimir Putin announced on Saturday, during a speech to the public, that the suspects were planning to travel to Ukraine.

Kyiv has vigorously rejected any responsibility for the alleged assault that took place at the Crocus City Hall music venue in Krasnogorsk on Friday. The city has accused Putin and other Russian leaders of making false claims in order to further fuel aggression towards Ukraine in their ongoing war, now in its third year.

The group connected to the Islamic State in Afghanistan has taken credit for the attack through a statement shared on social media. According to a U.S. intelligence source, American agencies have verified IS as the responsible party for the attack.

According to Putin, the attack resulted in 11 people being detained by the authorities. The incident caused numerous injuries among concert attendees and the concert venue was left in ruins. The Russian leader referred to it as a “brutal, savage terrorist attack” and disclosed that the four alleged shooters were apprehended while attempting to flee to Ukraine utilizing a pre-planned “window” on the Ukrainian side of the border.

Russian President Putin announced that enhanced security measures have been implemented across the entire country, along with a declaration that Sunday will be observed as a day of mourning.

On Saturday, investigators were searching through the burnt remains of the building in search of additional casualties. The authorities have stated that the number of deaths could increase. According to the Russian health ministry, hundreds of individuals queued up to give blood and plasma in Moscow on Saturday morning.

Putin stated that they encountered not only a calculated and cold-hearted act of terror, but a systematic and well-planned massacre of innocent civilians.

The attack, which was the deadliest in Russia in years, came just days after Putin cemented his grip on power in a highly orchestrated electoral landslide and as the war in Ukraine drags on.

Upon the attack, a number of Russian legislators immediately accused Ukraine. However, Mykhailo Podolyak, an advisor to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, firmly denied any participation.

“The use of terrorist tactics has never been employed by Ukraine,” he wrote on X. “The outcome of this war will be determined solely on the battlefield.”

The Foreign Ministry of Ukraine has accused Moscow of using the attack as a means to incite support for its war campaign.

The ministry released a statement regarding accusations made against them, stating that they believe these accusations are a deliberate ploy by the Kremlin to intensify anti-Ukrainian sentiments among the Russian population. They believe this is a tactic to encourage more Russian citizens to participate in the criminal acts against their country and to tarnish Ukraine’s reputation in the eyes of the global community.

On Saturday, pictures released by Russian state media depicted numerous rescue vehicles still present at the destroyed Crocus City Hall. This venue has the capacity for over 6,000 individuals and has hosted various significant gatherings, such as the 2013 Miss Universe pageant attended by notable figures like Donald Trump.

Online videos depicted individuals armed with firearms shooting at close range at civilians within the building. According to Russian reports, authorities and witnesses alleged that the assailants launched explosive devices, which ignited the fire. The theater’s structure, where spectators had convened to attend a show by the Russian band Piknic, collapsed in the early hours of Saturday while fire crews worked to extinguish the flames.

According to a statement released by the Afghanistan arm of the IS through its Aamaq news agency, they have targeted a significant gathering of individuals referred to as “Christians” in Krasnogorsk.

According to a U.S. intelligence source, intelligence agencies in America obtained information in recent weeks about the IS faction’s plot to launch an attack in Moscow. This intelligence was shared confidentially with Russian officials earlier this month by U.S. authorities.

The individual in question was informed about the situation but did not have permission to disclose the confidential intelligence. They spoke to the AP anonymously.

People from all over the globe have sent messages expressing their anger, disbelief and sympathy towards the victims and their loved ones.

Last Friday, the U.N. Security Council denounced the “atrocious and spineless terrorist attack” and emphasized the necessity for those responsible to face consequences. According to a statement from his spokesperson, U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres also condemned the terrorist attack “in the most definitive manner.”

After winning the presidential election this week and suppressing opposition, Putin rebuked the Western warnings about a possible terrorist attack as an effort to intimidate the Russian people. He described it as a form of blackmail and an attempt to cause fear and disrupt society.

In October of 2015, an explosive device placed by the group known as IS caused a Russian civilian aircraft to crash in Sinai. Tragically, all 224 individuals on board, many of whom were Russian tourists returning from Egypt, lost their lives. This organization is primarily active in Syria and Iraq, but has also carried out attacks in Afghanistan and Africa. In addition, they have taken responsibility for multiple attacks in Russia’s unstable Caucasus region and other areas in recent years. They have even recruited soldiers from Russia and other parts of the former Soviet Union.

Source: voanews.com