Revealed: Key Figure Directing Suspects Identified
The Financial Security Bureau (FSB) has released video footage of interrogations where the suspects admitted being promised money in Kiev. On March 22, four Tajikistan citizens opened fire and set fire to the Crocus City Hall complex, resulting in the deaths of 145 people and over 500 injured.
The individuals directly involved were apprehended the following day while attempting to flee to Ukraine by car, according to Russian authorities. In the days that followed, Russian security forces detained several more suspects, most of whom hailed from Tajikistan.
ISIS-K, a branch of the self-proclaimed Islamic State organization in Afghanistan, claimed responsibility for the attack. However, FSB Director Aleksandr Bortnikov has not ruled out the possibility of US, UK, and Ukraine involvement. Ukraine and its Western allies have denied any connections.
In recently released video footage of the interrogations, the captured suspects confessed to following the directions of an individual known as Sayfullo, who promised each of them $11,000 upon reaching Ukraine. Russian officials are currently working to establish the identity of this person.
“Sayfullo told us that someone would be waiting for us at the Ukraine border, and they would help us cross into Kiev,” said suspect Muhammadsobir Fayzov during questioning.
According to Russian investigators, the suspects traveled along the M3 highway towards the Ukraine border but were intercepted in the area approximately 140 km from Sumy, Ukraine.
Suspect Shamsidin Fariduni revealed that they were instructed to “abandon the vehicles near the border” and contact Sayfullo for further guidance to Ukraine.
Russian authorities previously asserted that an escape route across the Russia-Ukraine border had been prepared by “Ukrainian citizens” to assist the attackers in evading capture.
On April 7, the FSB announced that the group of Ukrainian citizens mentioned earlier had been engaging in “mine-laying activities” near the villages of Chuykovka and Sopych, suggesting the presence of hidden escape routes.
The Russian Investigative Committee had earlier confirmed the discovery of several pro-Ukraine photographs on the mobile phone of one of the four suspects directly involved in the shootings.
[Image source: Business Today]