Terror strike at Moscow concert hall raises spectre of international tensions

The director of the Russian FSB, Aleksandr Bortnikov, commented on the recent attack.

Many reports from Russian state media or Kremlin officials are likely inaccurate, potentially feeding into an information war from the Russian Federation.

On Tuesday, Bortnikov shared updates about the attack, expressing that the threat of terrorism in Russia continues. He suggested that the attack might have been advantageous for Western security services and Ukraine, aiming to destabilize Russia, as reported by the NEXTA portal.

He also mentioned that the United States had provided Russia with general warnings of potential terrorism, which were considered by Moscow. However, the person or group behind the attack remains unidentified. "Measures of retaliation will be taken," he announced.

Bortnikov additionally pointed out that Kyrylo Budanov, the head of the Main Intelligence Directorate of the Ukrainian Ministry of Defense, "could become a legitimate target for the Russian military." He labeled the Security Service of Ukraine as a terrorist organization.

Attack in Russia

On a Friday, a concert hall in the Moscow suburb of Krasnogorsk was attacked by terrorists. The assailants opened fire on the audience, detonated explosives, and ignited a fire that led to the collapse of the building's roof. Official Russian government statements report that at least 139 people were killed, and over 180 were injured.

Russian media have speculated that the true casualty count could exceed 360.

The Islamic State Khorasan Province, an Afghan branch of IS, took responsibility for the assault. Russian law enforcement has apprehended four suspects, along with several alleged accomplices, none of whom are Russian citizens. A Moscow court has ordered their detention until the 22nd of May, pending trial.

"Search efforts in the debris have become increasingly challenging, with the likelihood that the bodies of many victims could be found, though identification is hampered days after the attack. Rescue teams are finding very few remains, mostly teeth, and it's feared that high temperatures from the fire may have left no remains in some areas," reported the independent Russian Telegram channel Mozhem Objasnit' on Tuesday.

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Source: X/NEXTA/PAP/Telegram