Russia questions US assertions about Islamic State orchestrating Moscow attack

Russia on Monday (Mar 25) refuted claims made by the United States that the militant group Islamic State was behind the Moscow attack that claimed the lives of 137 people and wounded 182 others, alleging that Washington was covering for Ukraine.

Four assailants opened fire on a crowd inside the Crocus City Hall on Friday night (Mar 22), during a concert by the Soviet-era rock group Picnic in what is being considered the bloodiest attack to occur within Russia in over two decades.

Russia on Sunday (Mar 24) charged the suspects with acts of terrorism in connection to the tragic attack.

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As per a Reuters report citing Moscow Basmanny district courts' official Telegram channel, the suspects have been named as Dalerdzhon Mirzoyev, Saidakrami Rachabalizoda, Shamsidin Fariduni, and Muhammadsobir Fayzov.

The men, whom the Russian media identified as being citizens of the ex-Soviet republic of Tajikistan living in the country, would be remanded in pre-trial custody until May 22.

Reportedly, three of the four had pleaded guilty to all charges. One of them, as per Reuters, said he was promised half a million roubles (a little over $5,000) to carry out the attack.

US officials say had warned Russia of attack

The United States officials said that they had warned Moscow about an imminent attack earlier this month.

Islamic State has claimed responsibility for the attack and has also released footage that it claims is from the tragic incident.

However, Russia's Foreign Ministry spokeswoman, Maria Zakharova, questioned the assertions made by the United States stating that the Islamic State, which previously made attempts to seize control of swathes of Iraq and Syria, was the one who orchestrated the attack.

In an article for the Komsomolskaya Pravda newspaper, she stated that the United States was on purpose spurring the "bogeyman" of Islamic State in order to conceal its "wards" in Kyiv.

She further mentioned in the article how Washington backed the "mujahideen" fighters who fought Soviet forces in the 1980s.

Putin in an earlier address had claimed thatthe attackers made their way to the Bryansk region, about 340 km (210 miles) southwest of Moscow.

"They tried to hide and moved towards Ukraine, where, according to preliminary data, a window was prepared for them on the Ukrainian side to cross the state border," he said.

Meanwhile, Ukraine has denied any role in the attack.

(With inputs from agencies)