Russian authorities recently detained four men in connection with a devastating attack at a concert hall outside Moscow, an incident that left over 130 individuals dead. These men were apprehended wearing attire identical to that of the assailants captured in video footage of the attack, an analysis by The New York Times revealed, drawing upon video from the hall, social media profiles, and images either leaked or released by Russian sources.
The clothing worn by the suspects, including a light brown T-shirt with a unique logo and pants branded with a Boss label, matched those donned by a gunman in propaganda footage of the attack disseminated by the Islamic State, also known as ISIS. Furthermore, the vehicle used by the suspects at the time of their capture matched in color and model the one seen in footage from the concert hall attack.
Identified during a court hearing in Moscow as Saidakrami M. Rachabalizoda, Shamsidin Fariduni, Muhammadsobir Z. Fayzov, and Dalerjon B. Mirzoyev, the suspects face charges of committing a terrorist act and have been remanded into custody until May 22. Three of them claimed Tajikistan as their home country during the court proceedings. Interrogation videos reviewed by The Times revealed at least two speaking Tajik. Some of the men displayed injuries from their detention, and one appeared in court in a wheelchair, his responses limited.
The U.S. has attributed the attack to the Islamic State, which has claimed responsibility and released photos and videos of the attackers. Russian President Vladimir Putin labeled the assault as an act of “international terrorism” without specifically mentioning the Islamic State. Meanwhile, Russian state media has insinuated Ukraine’s involvement, a claim Ukraine denies.
Despite executing one of the deadliest terrorist attacks in Russia in recent decades, the gunmen did not seem highly trained, according to Rob Lee, a senior fellow at the Foreign Policy Research Institute. Their tactics during the attack suggested a lack of professional training. Notably, the suspects did not change their attire post-attack, nor did they switch vehicles, simplifying the task for authorities to track them down and link them to the crime scene.
Russia’s Investigative Committee announced the detention of the suspects near Bryansk, approximately 230 miles southwest of Moscow, recovering weapons from a Renault car. Putin suggested the men were attempting to flee towards the Ukrainian border.
A distressing video verified by The Times shows the detention of Mr. Rachabalizoda in the woods, with a subsequent video revealing a brutal interrogation. In each instance, his attire matched that of one of the attackers at Crocus City Hall.
Other suspects were similarly identified and linked to the attack through clothing and personal items that matched those seen in Islamic State’s propaganda materials. For instance, Mr. Fariduni was seen in a gray collared T-shirt during his interrogation, matching the attire of one of the attackers in an Islamic State photo.
The suspects’ backgrounds varied, with Mr. Fayzov, a 19-year-old barber who had been living in Russia, and Mr. Mirzoyev, who required an interpreter during his interrogation and appeared to have sustained injuries during his detention.
This meticulous matching of details from the suspects’ attire to the vehicles used provides a chilling insight into the planning and execution of one of Russia’s most tragic terrorist attacks in recent history.