Following last week’s tragic attack on a suburban Moscow concert hall that claimed the lives of 144 individuals, Tajikistan’s state security service has detained nine individuals suspected of having connections with the assailants, as reported by Russian state news agency RIA Novosti on Friday.
According to RIA Novosti, the detainees, residents of the Vakhdat district, are believed to have been in contact with the perpetrators of the terrorist attack at Crocus City Hall on March 22.
The operation to apprehend the suspects involved cooperation between Tajikistan’s special services and Russian security forces.
The detainees are also under suspicion of ties with the Islamic State group, as reported by RIA Novosti. Meanwhile, a Moscow court ruled on Friday to detain another suspect, Lutfulloi Nazrimad, until at least May 22 pending investigation and trial. Nazrimad, originally from Tajikistan, is the ninth individual to face court proceedings in connection with the deadly attack.
Previously, Russian officials had announced the arrest of 11 suspects, including four alleged perpetrators of the attack, all Tajik nationals. During their appearance in a Moscow court on Sunday, the suspects displayed signs of severe beatings, raising concerns about their treatment.
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In a related development, Russia’s Investigative Committee disclosed on Thursday the detention of another suspect suspected of involvement in financing the attack. However, the identity and specific actions of this individual were not divulged.
While a faction of the Islamic State group has claimed responsibility for the massacre, Russian officials, led by President Vladimir Putin, have repeatedly insinuated, without substantiating evidence, the involvement of Ukraine and Western powers in the attack.
The Investigative Committee asserted that the assailants received substantial sums of money and cryptocurrency from Ukraine to facilitate the crime. However, Ukrainian authorities have vehemently denied these allegations, accusing Moscow of using them as a pretext to escalate tensions and conflict in the region.
The death toll from the tragic incident continues to climb, with the latest victim succumbing to injuries in a hospital, pushing the tally to 144 casualties, according to Russian Health Minister Mikhail Murashko.
