“Investigators recovered data from the cell phones of those accused of attacking Crocus City Hall.“, the investigative body responsible for major investigations in the country said in a statement.
On March 22, armed men entered the Crocus City Hall concert venue near Moscow, opened fire on the crowd and set the building on fire. At least 144 people were killed and 360 wounded in the attack, which was claimed by Islamic State.
Twelve suspects, including four attackers from the former Soviet republic of Tajikistan in Central Asia, were detained.
According to data recovered from the cellphones, “the morning of February 24, 2024,” the second anniversary of the start of the Russian offensive in Ukraine. “One of the accused found photos of Crocus City Hall's entrances on the Internet and sent them to his manager,” the investigators added..
“The defendant confirmed all these in his statements,” the press release said.
Further,”Photographs of men in camouflage with the Ukrainian flag were found on the defendant's cell phone.Against the background of collapsed buildings”, the report continued without elaborating.
“This data may indicate a link between the attack and the conduct of the special military operation“, the report says, using Kremlin-imposed rhetoric to describe the attack in Ukraine.
The inquiry committee insists it has conducted inquiries into possible involvement.Ukrainian special services and representatives of international Islamic and terrorist organizations in organizing and financing the attack“To Crocus City Hall.
Condemning Ukrainian involvement coordinated by the West, the Kremlin admitted that “radical Islamists” were behind the attack.
w/agencies