Turkish Suspects in Moscow Concert Hall Massacre Traveled Freely to Russia
A Turkish security official revealed that two suspects involved in the Moscow concert hall massacre were able to travel freely to Russia as no arrest warrants were issued against them. Russian authorities detained 11 individuals in connection with the attack, where camouflaged gunmen stormed into Crocus City Hall in northern Moscow, opened fire on concertgoers, and set the building ablaze, resulting in at least 139 casualties.
Travel Between Russia and Turkey
Two of the suspects, Tajiks Rachabalizoda Saidakrami and Shamsidin Fariduni, were identified to have traveled freely between Russia and Turkey due to the absence of arrest warrants. They had both visited Turkey shortly before the attack and entered Russia together on the same flight from Istanbul.
IS Claim of Responsibility
The Islamic State (IS) terrorist group claimed responsibility for the Moscow attack, with IS-affiliated media channels releasing graphic videos of the gunmen inside the venue.
Response from Russian and Turkish Authorities
Russian President Vladimir Putin acknowledged that “radical Islamists” were behind the attack, hinting at a possible link to Ukraine. Meanwhile, Turkish authorities conducted nationwide raids, detaining 147 suspects with alleged ties to IS extremists in simultaneous operations across 30 cities.
Suspects’ Movements
One suspect, Fariduni, entered Turkey on February 20 and returned to Russia via Istanbul on March 2. He stayed in a hotel in Istanbul’s Fatih neighborhood and later admitted to traveling to Turkey due to an expired visa in Russia. The other suspect, Saidakrami, arrived in Istanbul on January 5, checked into a hotel in Fatih, and then returned to Moscow on March 2.
Radicalization in Russia
The Turkish official suggested that both suspects became radicalized in Russia, considering the short duration of their stay in Turkey. Turkey affirmed its commitment to combating all terror groups, including IS, without pause.
International Cooperation
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan condemned the Moscow attack and expressed readiness to collaborate with Russia in the fight against terrorism, emphasizing the strong ties between the two leaders.