ISIS claims responsibility for deadly Moscow Crocus City Hall attack
The attack on Moscow's popular Crocus City Hall that left at least 137 dead, has become the deadliest attack in Russia since the Beslan school siege in 2004.
A Russian national tricolour flag flutters in the wind near the burned Crocus City Hall concert hall, the scene of the gun attack, in Krasnogorsk, outside Moscow, on 23 March 2024. Picture: AFP
Africa Melane speaks to Andre Thomashausen, Professor Emeritus of International Law at UNISA to comment on the attack on a concert in Moscow.
It's reported that the attack on Moscow's popular Crocus City Hall that left at least 137 dead with "several hundred injured" on Friday (22 March) has become the deadliest attack in Russia since the Beslan school siege in 2004.
Four suspects appeared in court, three of them pleading guilty on all charges, claiming links to ISIS.
Thomashausen speculates why ISIS claimed responsibility for this terrorist attack.
"ISIS is no friend of Russia.There are many years of Russia using extreme force against Muslim organisations and Muslim countries - let us remember the war in Chechnya - where the capital city Grozny got completely flattened... and of course the Russian military intervention in Syria which basically destroyed the ISIS - not much is left of ISIS since this intervention."
- Andre Thomashausen, Professor Emeritus of International Law - UNISA
"So, it is quite possible that this attack comes from ISIS. On the internet we've also seen the release of selfie footage that were apparently taken by one or more of the attackers as they mowed down and shot randomly into the crowd that were trying to flee using the border to Ukraine but this doesn't necessarily prove that they have funding or encouragement or friendly relations in Ukraine."
- Andre Thomashausen, Professor Emeritus of International Law - UNISA
Reports later confirmed that the alleged gunmen were Tajik citizens.
The president of Tajikistan condemned the Moscow concert hall attack in a call with Russian leader Vladimir Putin on Sunday, 24 March, says reports.
"Terrorists do not have a nationality, no homeland and no religion."
- Emomali Rahmon, Tajik President
While Thomashausen agrees that terrorists are only united through "destructive energy."
"They are driven by their enormous destructive energy, regardless what passport they carry."
- Andre Thomashausen, Professor Emeritus of International Law - UNISA
Thomashausen notes that Putin has not yet responded to the attack.
"He has been cautious and he has not made any definite announcements to this."
- Andre Thomashausen, Professor Emeritus of International Law - UNISA
Scroll up to the audio player to listen to the full conversation.