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Who was behind the Moscow attack?

23.03.2024 14:00
While most media outlets and states concur that ISIS-K is the most likely culprit for the attack, sources close to Ukraine suspect Russian collusion and Russia has been reluctant to accept ISIS-K responsibility. The death toll has risen to 115. 
Aftermath of Moscow attack.
Aftermath of Moscow attack. Photo: PAP/EPA/MAXIM SHIPENKOV

While the majority of states and international media outlets seem to accept the culpability of ISIS or a branch of ISIS (ISIS-K) for last night's attack on the Crocus City Hall concert, two countries in particular have not. The motives would then appear to be related to revenge for Russian abuse of Muslim-majority states at its borders or Russia's involvement in the Middle East - or both.   

Russian officials have suggested that Ukraine was involved in the attack, without providing any evidence for the claims. The Ukrainian Foreign Ministry quickly and categorically denied the accusations.   

Ukrainian sources as well as other military experts have suggested that the Russian FSB may have been involved. Ukrainian sources, unsurprisingly, generally tend to add "supposed" or "reported" to every statement coming out of Russia. However, Ukrainian sources today are going further, like the Kyiv Independent which cites sources suggesting that previous "terrorist attacks" on Russian soil may have been self-inflicted - or at least orchestrated by Russia.   

This film, posted on X, appears to show the Russian police interrogating a suspect who confesses he participated in the attack for 5000 USD:

It remains to be seen whether Russia will attempt to spin these arrests as implicating Ukraine. 

Sources: The Guardian, CNN, Kyiv Independent, X

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