Russian authorities have apprehended 11 individuals following a harrowing assault at a Moscow concert hall, resulting in a death toll of at least 115 people, as reported by state media on Saturday. The Russian Federal Security Service disclosed that among those detained, four were directly implicated in the attack, which left the venue in ruins with a collapsed roof.
While the Islamic State group claimed responsibility for the massacre, Russian agencies insinuated a potential connection to Ukraine. Notably, a U.S. intelligence official corroborated the group's involvement. The suspects were intercepted in the Bryansk region, near the Ukrainian border, with intentions to cross into Ukraine, as per Russia’s Investigative Committee and state news agency Tass.
President Vladimir Putin was briefed on the arrests by the head of the Federal Security Service, amidst the aftermath of a recent electoral victory that solidified his authority. The assault, marking the deadliest incident in Russia in years, coincided with the nation's protracted engagement in Ukraine, now entering its third year.
