Moscow, Russia – A video confession was released on Telegram by Russian state news agency RIA Novosti, revealing details of one of the men involved in the attack on the Crocus City Hall complex. The video shows a man with a bloodied bandaged head, speaking in Russian and providing his name and age. He appears unsure of the whereabouts of the weapons used in the attack, directing questions to his acquaintances for answers.
Images shared by RIA Novosti depict three of the alleged attackers after their arrest, matching videos circulating on unofficial channels. Notably, no image or video of the fourth suspect has surfaced in Russian media. The men are described as having limited proficiency in Russian, with one resorting to Tajik with the help of an interpreter during questioning.
According to RIA Novosti, one of the men claimed to have been offered a significant sum of money to carry out the attack, initially mentioning half a million rubles before revising his statement. Their recent return from Turkey, shared living arrangements in a Moscow hostel, and a tenuous connection to a family-owned car used in the attack shed light on the suspects’ background and potential motives.
The agency highlighted the lack of a clear motive or connection among the alleged attackers, raising questions about the orchestration of such a violent incident. The interrogation fragments do not provide a cohesive narrative, leaving uncertainties about the individuals’ intentions and affiliations. It is suggested that the statements made by the suspects may have been influenced by external pressures and should be approached with caution.
CNN has not independently verified the accuracy of the RIA Novosti report or the information shared by the alleged attacker. The circumstances under which the confession was obtained raise concerns about the reliability of the details disclosed. As investigations into the attack continue, authorities are likely to delve deeper into the backgrounds and relationships of those involved, aiming to unravel the complexities of this tragic event.