(UnitedVoice.com) – Terrorists have shown their willingness to attack crowded venues time and again to maximize casualties. In 2017, Islamic terrorists bombed the Manchester Arena in England during an Ariana Grande concert, killing 22 people and injuring more than 1,000. Last year, Hamas militants attacked a music concert in Israel, leaving 364 people dead.
Another music event has now been attacked. This time, the attack occurred in Russia. Some of the suspected assailants have attended their first court appearances.
The Attack
On March 7, the US Embassy in Moscow warned the Russian government that it had intelligence warning of an imminent attack in the city. The embassy also urged Americans to leave the country and avoid crowded spaces.
Twelve days later, on March 19, Russian President Vladimir Putin reportedly dismissed the warnings by the US and its allies about an impending attack. He said they were “provocative statements” meant to destabilize his country. The authoritarian leader was wrong.
On March 22, gunmen dressed in camo entered the Crocus City Hall, where the Russian rockers Picnic were performing. Crowds were packed in the venue when the assailants opened fire with automatic weapons. They also threw a bomb or grenade into the crowd.
The attack caused a fire, and the concert hall roof began collapsing. As of March 26, at least 137 people were dead.
The Perpetrators
The Islamic State Khorasan (ISIS-K) quickly took responsibility for the attack. That’s the same group responsible for the bombing in Afghanistan that killed 13 American service members during the troop withdrawal in 2021. The US confirmed it had intelligence that indicated the group was responsible.
The day after the attack, Putin announced that 11 suspects were detained. Among the suspects were four alleged gunmen. They appeared in Moscow’s Basmanny District Court and were charged with acts of terrorism on March 25.
All of the gunmen appeared to have been beaten while in Russian custody. Russian authorities identified the men as Muhammadsobir Fayzov, Saidakrami Murodali Rachabalizoda, Dalerdzhon Mirzoyev, and Shamsidin Fariduni.
According to the BBC, at least one of the men was given electric shocks during the interrogation. They all appeared to have suffered brutal beatings. Rachabalizoda’s ear was partially severed during his arrest. Fayzov was wheeled into the courtroom and appeared to be unconscious. He looked as though one of his eyes was missing.
Rachabalizoda and Mirzoyev allegedly admitted to their roles in the mass murder. They will be held in pre-trial detention until late May.
The Russian president has accused Ukraine of being involved, but the US has said there’s no evidence of that.
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