“The expertise will determine which drugs or psychotropic drugs they have consumed,” Tass reported on Thursday, citing investigators. Accordingly, the alleged perpetrators might have been under the influence of drugs not only on the day itself, but beforehand. The terrorist militia Islamic State has claimed responsibility for the attack that left more than 140 dead.
The investigative committee also said that technical devices were confiscated from the suspects. Accordingly, an analysis of connection data should show that the men were in contact with Ukrainian nationalists and received payments. Ukraine vehemently denies having anything to do with the attack.
143 dead, 360 injured
After the terrorist attack last Friday, the number of dead was recently given as 143 and the number of injured as 360. The authorities reported the first arrests on Saturday. On Thursday, the investigative committee reported another arrest. According to the court, the four suspected shooters, who according to the media were tortured, missed the deadline for appealing once morest the arrest warrants.
People have been laying flowers at the hall in northwest Moscow for days in memory of the victims. Kremlin chief Vladimir Putin has not yet visited the crime scene almost a week following the worst terrorist attack in 20 years. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said in response to a question regarding Putin’s absence that the president did not want to disrupt the investigation and clean-up work.
Criticism of Putin
Kremlin opponents accuse Putin of being emotionally cold and afraid of appearing publicly in such a place. They criticize that the president has failed following almost 25 years in power – despite promises to defeat terror and ensure security. Putin expressed his condolences to the families of those who died; The authorities have promised financial aid for the injured and the bereaved.
Putin had confirmed that Islamists had carried out the crime. However, he sees a Ukrainian trace that he did not specify and for which he did not provide any evidence. Kremlin spokesman Peskov emphasized in an interview that the masterminds had not yet been identified.
