What's happened
Russian officials blame Ukraine and the West for the deadly Moscow concert hall attack claimed by IS. Four suspects from Tajikistan, accused of carrying out the attack, appeared in court with signs of torture. The US had warned Russia of an imminent attack 15 days earlier. Ukraine denies involvement, calling Russia's claims 'lies'.
Why it matters
The accusations by Russian officials against Ukraine and the West in the Moscow concert hall attack are significant as they escalate tensions between the countries. The torture marks on the suspects raise concerns about human rights violations. The US warning prior to the attack adds complexity to the situation, highlighting potential intelligence failures and the need for international cooperation to combat terrorism.
What the papers say
The Independent reports on the suspects appearing in court with signs of torture, cautioning against blindly accepting the Kremlin's claims. The BBC News article highlights the accusations made by Russian officials against Ukraine and the West, as well as Ukraine's rejection of the allegations.
How we got here
The deadly attack at the Crocus City Hall concert complex in Moscow, claimed by IS, resulted in 139 deaths and left 22 others seriously injured. Russian officials have accused Ukraine and the West of aiding the attackers, despite the US warning Russia of a possible attack. The suspects, citizens of Tajikistan, were allegedly heading for Ukraine when apprehended.
More on these topics
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Ukraine is a country in Eastern Europe. It is the second-largest European country after Russia, which borders it to the east and northeast.
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Moscow is the capital and largest city of Russia. The megacity stands on the Moskva River in the central portion of Western Russia, with a population estimated at 12.6 million residents within the city limits, while over 17 million residents in the urban
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Russia, or the Russian Federation, is a transcontinental country located in Eastern Europe and Northern Asia. Covering an area of 17,125,200 square kilometres, it is the largest country in the world by area, spanning more than one-eighth of the Earth's in
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Tajikistan, officially the Republic of Tajikistan, is a mountainous, landlocked country in Central Asia with an area of 143,100 kmĀ² and an estimated population of 9,537,645 people.