Moscow: In a shocking revelation, the Islamic State (IS) has taken responsibility for the devastating terrorist attack on Crocus City Hall, situated in the heart of Moscow. The attack, which occurred on the evening of March 22 during a concert by the renowned Russian rock band ‘Picnik’, has resulted in a staggering death toll of over 100 people, with more than a hundred others sustaining injuries.
The militant organization, through its propaganda arm Amaq News Agency, issued a statement attributing the attack to their fighters. The statement detailed the assault on a large gathering of Christians in Krasnogorsk, a suburb of Moscow, where hundreds were purportedly killed and many more injured. The attackers reportedly inflicted massive destruction before retreating to their bases.
The assault unfolded as several gunmen clad in military attire stormed the Crocus Concert Hall, unleashing a hail of gunfire and employing explosives, triggering a raging inferno within the premises. The chaotic situation left numerous attendees trapped inside, prompting a swift rescue operation. Regrettably, this marks the most severe terrorist attack in Russia in the past two decades, eliciting condolences from Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin, who labeled it a “huge tragedy.”
The Russian authorities have swiftly initiated an investigation into the incident, treating it as a terrorist act. Speculation regarding Ukrainian involvement in the attack surfaced, prompting swift denial from Ukrainian officials, who dismissed the allegations as baseless attempts to stoke anti-Ukraine sentiments.
In a startling development, Ukraine’s intelligence agency spokesperson Andrill Yusov made a bold assertion, implicating Russian President Vladimir Putin in orchestrating the attack to incite unrest among the populace. This accusation adds another layer of complexity to an already volatile situation.
The timing of the attack, occurring merely five days after Putin’s reelection for a fifth term as President of Russia, raises suspicions and fuels conjecture about the potential motives behind the heinous act. Despite earlier warnings from the US Embassy regarding the possibility of such an attack, Putin vehemently condemned such assertions.
The Russian government, labeling the incident as a terrorist attack, has mobilized all security agencies, including the Russian National Guard, to apprehend the perpetrators. Intensive search operations are currently underway as the nation grapples with the aftermath of this senseless tragedy.
