Russia: Crocus Moscow Attackers Trained in Turkey, Afghanistan

DID Press: Russian judicial authorities say the perpetrators of the deadly attack on the Crocus concert hall outside Moscow received specialized military training abroad, including in Turkey and Afghanistan, before carrying out the operation.

According to Russia’s state news agency, the Second Western District Military Court said during hearings that the four attackers demonstrated professional-level weapons skills.

A judicial official said one of the main suspects, Shamsiddin Fariduni, had advanced marksmanship abilities and played a central role in scouting the attack site, recruiting participants, procuring a vehicle and obtaining weapons.

The report says Fariduni was initially expected to travel from Turkey to Afghanistan to join Islamic State Khorasan (IS-K), but was instead directed to take part in the Crocus operation after winter travel routes were closed.

Organizers of the attack allegedly promised the attackers a payment of one million Russian rubles, and the suspects attempted to flee toward Ukraine after the assault, according to the court.

The attack on the Crocus concert hall took place on March 3 last year, killing 149 people and injuring more than 600 others. Islamic State claimed responsibility, and court proceedings against the suspects began earlier this summer.