MOSCOW (AP) — Foreign diplomats in Russia laid flowers Saturday at the site of last week’s attack on a concert hall in the Moscow suburbs that killed 144 people.
Participants included ambassadors from the United States, EU countries, Africa and Latin America. Russian state news firm RIA Novosti said that among “about 130 diplomatic missions” were representatives of “hostile states. “
Russia’s official Tass news agency reported on Saturday that the number of people wounded in the attack was 551, based on figures from the Moscow regional branch of Russia’s Ministry of Emergency Situations. The previous figures were much lower and that doesn’t reflect the discrepancy.
Russia’s investigative committee said Saturday that 134 of the dead had been identified. “Genetic testing is underway for other victims, who have not yet been identified,” the committee said in a message on the Telegram messaging app.
An associate of the Islamic State claimed responsibility for the attack, the deadliest on Russian soil in years. The Kremlin, however, insisted that Ukraine and the West had a role to play, which Kiev vehemently denied.
Nine other people were detained by Tajikistan’s state security in connection with the attack, RIA Novosti reported on Friday.
In Russia, a total of nine suspects have so far been prosecuted and are in pre-trial detention. The latest hearing took place on Friday, and a ruling by the Basmanny District Court ruled that suspect Lutfulloi Nazrimad will remain in custody until at least May 22. Independent Russian online news site Mediazona quoted Nazrimad as telling the court that he was born in Tajikistan.
“There are a lot of calls. It is not so much about court cases about harassment as it is about the concern and panic of our citizens. Many need to leave. We are now monitoring the situation; more people are coming (to Tajikistan). of which they leave,” Deputy Labor Minister Shakhnoza Nodiri told Tass on Saturday, the news company reported.
Russian officials had previously said 11 suspects had been arrested, adding that four were suspected of carrying out the attack. The four people, known as Tajik citizens, appeared in a Moscow court on terrorism charges on Sunday and showed symptoms of severe beatings. During the hearing, they gave the impression of being a little attentive.
Russia’s Investigative Committee also said on Thursday that it had arrested a suspect in connection with the raid on Crocus City Hall on suspicion of being involved in financing the attack. He did not elaborate on the suspect’s identity or his alleged actions.
Subscribe
Subscribe to our flurry of news.