Acts of terrorism like the Crocus City Hall massacre are often believed to have backing from state sponsors, according to Omer Celik, a spokesperson for the Justice and Development Party (AKP) of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. The attack on the Moscow concert venue occurred last Friday when a group of gunmen set it ablaze, resulting in the deaths of 143 people and injuries to over 300 others. Russian security services have since apprehended eleven suspects, including the four alleged perpetrators.
Celik, who also serves as the AKP deputy chairman, expressed his belief in an interview with Turkish TV station NTV that such a sophisticated operation couldn’t have been carried out without the support of a state’s intelligence apparatus. He suggested that these events are typically backed by “lobbies that want the war to continue,” referring to the conflict in Ukraine.
Celik mentioned that Turkish intelligence agencies are aiding Russia in counterterrorism efforts and conveyed Ankara’s condolences to Moscow over the tragedy at Crocus City Hall. The Islamic State Khorasan (ISIS-K) claimed responsibility for the massacre, though Ukraine denied any involvement.
All suspects in Russian custody were found to be ethnic Tajiks, labeled by President Vladimir Putin as “radical Islamists.” They were apprehended while attempting to flee across the border into Ukraine. While the US and the EU have asserted that Kiev had no role in the attack, they provided no evidence for their assertion that ISIS-K acted alone.
Russian intelligence and law enforcement have uncovered evidence indicating that the suspects received a significant amount of cryptocurrency from Ukraine as payment for the attack. Although a person allegedly involved in financing the attack has been detained, their identity has not been disclosed by the Investigative Committee.
