The World Briefly
March 25, 2024The Blame Game
Russia
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Four men appeared in a Moscow court Monday, accused of carrying out a terror attack by an Islamic State offshoot that killed almost 140 people at a concert hall in the Russian capital over the weekend, which came less than a week after Russian President Vladimir Putin began a fifth term in office, the BBC reported.
Video footage of the attack on Friday at the Crocus City Hall on the outskirts of the Russian capital showed at least four gunmen opening fire on concertgoers, and using “a flammable liquid” to set fire to the hall, Russian officials said.
The death toll reached 137 people Monday and may still rise.
Shortly after the attack, Islamic State-Khorasan (IS-K) – an offshoot of Islamic State that operates in Afghanistan and other parts of Central Asia – claimed responsibility for the assault and released footage of the massacre.
The four accused were among 11 people detained by Russian authorities, Sky News added. Russian news reports said the men were from Tajikistan.
Even so, Putin alleged that the attackers attempted to flee to Ukraine, with some officials claiming that the gunmen were Ukrainian and hinting that the “Ukrainian trace” in these attacks must be answered on the battlefield.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy swiftly denied the allegations, countering that it was “absolutely predictable” that “Putin and other scum are just trying to blame someone else.”
The concert hall attack comes two weeks after US intelligence had warned of a potential attack targeting “large gatherings” in Moscow. Kremlin officials criticized the reports for lacking specific details.
Still, analysts said the attack comes at a significant time for Putin, who secured another term in the Russian presidential elections last week – he ran nearly unopposed – because his popularity is largely based on his guarantees of security for the country.
Instead, Putin’s blaming of Ukraine and the West reflects a narrative shift, showcasing his struggle to maintain control as Russia’s protector, potentially eroding public trust in his leadership amidst rising security concerns, CNN wrote.
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