Moscow concert hall attack: Russia detains eighth suspect amid torture concerns

Russia on Tuesday (Mar 26) remanded to custody a Kyrgyzstan-born man suspected of involvementin last Friday's mass shooting at a Moscow concert hall, amid concerns of torture. He is the eighth suspect to be remanded in pre-trial detention since gunmen sprayed concertgoers with bullets in the deadliest terror attack in Russia in two decades.

Confession tactics?

Russia claims that four of the suspects currently in detention have confessed. However, concerns are being raised about the detainees being tortured.

Earlier, videos of them being brutally interrogated were published by Russian media and Telegram channels.

Following the circulation of these unverified videos on social media, courtroom images published by Russian media have revealed the disturbing physical conditions of the suspects.

One of the suspects was seen being brought in on a wheelchair, appearing to be missing an eye. Another had a bandage where his right ear should be, while a third had a black eye and a ripped plastic bag around his neck. The fourth suspect, with a swollen face, seemed disoriented and struggled to keep his eyes open.

Now, the Russian commissioner for human rights Tatyana Moskalkova has stressed that the detention of suspects should be carried out according to the law.

"It is absolutely unacceptable to use torture on detainees and defendants," said Moskalkova.

Watch |Moscow Terror Attack | Russia questions US: 'Are you sure it was Islamic State?

The eighth suspect

As per Reuters news agency, the latest suspect has been identified as Alisher Kasimov. The Kyrgyzstan-born man was led into the courtroom bent double - like the other suspects - before his handcuffs were removed. However, unlike some others, he showed no visible signs of injury.

Kasimov is accused of providing accommodation to the four Tajik men accused of carrying out the attack.

Deadliest attack: What happened in Moscow concert hall?

On Friday (Mar 22), just before Soviet-era rock group Picnic was to perform its hit "Afraid of Nothing", four armed men burst into Crocus City Hall, a 6,200-seat concert hall outside Moscow.

They unleashed a barrage of gunfire using automatic weapons in short bursts. The attackers killed at least 137 people, including three children, while 182 others were injured.

This attack was the deadliest inside Russia in two decades.

Previously, in 2004, a siege at Beslan school had claimed 300 lives — more than half of them children.

(With inputs from agencies)