Moscow tragedy: The gunmen accused of carrying out the deadly attack at the Moscow concert hall last Friday briefly traveled to Turkey earlier in the same week. According to a Turkish security official cited by Reuters, the purpose of their trip was to renew their Russian residence permits. However, the official clarified that the radicalization of these individuals did not occur during their time in Turkey.The anonymous Turkish security official revealed that there were no existing arrest warrants against the attackers, allowing them to freely travel between Turkey and Russia. It was also disclosed that the assailants had been residing in Moscow for an extended period before the tragic incident.Specifically, two of the assailants departed from Turkey and returned to Moscow on March 2, 2024, as reported by the source. The attack, later claimed by the Islamic State (IS), resulted in the deaths of over 143 people and left numerous others injured.In connection with the attack at Crocus City Hall in Moscow, eleven individuals have been detained.Regarding the attribution of the attack, Russian President Vladimir Putin has refrained from directly associating it with the Islamic State, despite the groups claim. Instead, he has raised questions about a potential link to Ukraine, an assertion that Kyiv has vehemently denied.During recent remarks addressing the attack, Putin acknowledged the involvement of radical Islamists but emphasized a connection to Ukraine. He questioned why the attackers sought to flee to Ukraine after committing the crime, suggesting a deeper involvement beyond the initial perpetrators.In response, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has firmly rejected any allegations of Ukrainian involvement, accusing Putin of consistently attempting to shift blame onto others.
