France has aligned with the United States in attributing responsibility for the tragic attack on a concert venue outside Moscow, which resulted in 137 deaths, to the Islamic State (IS).
This stance contrasts with Russia’s inclination to blame Ukraine for the incident.
The attack, marking the most severe on Russian soil in twenty years, saw four assailants enter Crocus City Hall during a performance by Picnic, a band popular since the Soviet era, leading to numerous casualties and injuries.
The attackers, including at least one Tajik national, have been detained and face terrorism charges. Their court appearance in Moscow highlighted the gravity of the accusations against them.
The claim of responsibility by IS, particularly its Afghan affiliate Islamic State Khorasan (ISIS-K), finds backing from U.S. intelligence, which had previously alerted Russia to the potential of such an assault.
French President Emmanuel Macron, during a visit to French Guiana, confirmed the intelligence consensus pointing to IS’s involvement, also noting attempts by the group to target French soil.
Despite this, Russian President Vladimir Putin has not publicly acknowledged IS’s role, instead suggesting that the assailants had ties to Ukraine, a claim met with denial from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy and criticism from Macron for attempting to shift blame.
The White House has outright rejected any connections between the attack and Ukraine, labeling Russian claims as propaganda.
Skepticism also extends to Russian officials questioning U.S. assertions about IS’s involvement, with references to past U.S. support for mujahideen fighters against Soviet forces in Afghanistan being invoked.
In the aftermath, the Russian public has mourned the victims, while Picnic plans a memorial concert. With 11 detentions reported by Putin, including the suspected gunmen who purportedly tried to escape to Ukraine, the incident has sparked significant international dialogue and debate.
The U.S. and its allies, having supported Ukraine against Russia since the 2022 invasion, watch closely as investigations unfold, amidst allegations of mistreatment of the detained suspects and ongoing tensions in Eastern Europe.