Moscow terror attack: Noticed nothing strange about him, says suspect's ex-employer

The former employer of Moscow concert hall terror attack suspect Muhammadsobir Fayzov said she noticed nothing strange about him. Fayzov, 19, is the youngest of suspects behind the shooting at the Crocus City Hall that killed 143 people and injured 360 others.

He used to work at a barber shop outside Moscow. Speaking to The Guardian newspaper on Tuesday (Mar 26), the shop's owner Yamina Safiyeva described the 19-year-old as a promising and hard-working stylist.

“He was regarded as a good barber … I noticed nothing strange about him,” Safiyeva said.

Fayzov's former colleagues said that they saw no signs that he would be accused of last week's attack at the Crocus City Hall.

'Must have been brainwashed'

Fayzov's mother Sairam told local media she was in disbelief that her son was accused of committing such an atrocity.

Sairam said her son was not a person who would have done something like this, adding he must have been brainwashed.

She also said that the 19-year-old dreamt of studying in China.

Last Saturday (Mar 23), several Telegram channels published a video of Fayzov being questioned while lying on a hospital bed.

Photographs circulating online on Sunday appeared to show Fayzov with one of his eyes missing.

He was photographed sitting in a wheelchair with his head slumped backwards and both eyes closed.

The other three suspected gunmen in the attack are Dalerdzhon Mirzoyev, Shamsidin Fariduni, and Saidakrami Murodali Rachabalizoda.

Earlier, The Russian Federal Security Service (FSB) announced it had detained 11 suspects.

On Tuesday, a district court in Moscow approved the detention of the eighth person suspected to be involved in the attack, the news agency Reuters reported.

'Ukrainian secret service aided terrorists'

While Russia has not been able to determine the main plotter of the attack, FSB's Director Alexander Bortnikov said on Tuesday that the Ukrainian secret service aided the terrorists.

Bortnikov's remarks were echoed by Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova who said that the United States covered up for Ukraine by denying its involvement in the attack.

Also watch |Russian FSB says US, UK and Ukraine behind Moscow attack

Also on Tuesday, advisor to the head of the Ukrainian Presidential Office Mikhail Podolyak rejected the notion of Ukraine's involvement in the attack.

(With inputs from agencies)