The SC found an old collage with the flag of Ukraine on the suspect in the terrorist attack

On Friday morning, the Investigative Committee of Russia released images allegedly found on the mobile phone of one of the suspects in the attack on the Crocus City Hall concert hall, which, according to the agency, may “testify to a connection between the committed terrorist act and the conduct of a special military operation” (that is is the Russian invasion of Ukraine).

In particular, the agency reported that “photographs of people in camouflaged uniforms with the Ukrainian flag against the background of destroyed houses and a Ukrainian postage stamp with an obscene gesture” were found in the phone. We are talking about a collage dedicated to the Russian invasion of Ukraine, the date of which is indicated on it – February 24, 2022. As “Agency” found out, this collage was published on the Internet more than a year ago. “Such a picture could have been saved in the terrorist’s phone when reading open sources on the Internet. For example, Google finds the same picture in at least two sources,” the Agency notes.

The second assumption of the Investigative Committee about the “Ukrainian trace” in the terrorist attack is also connected with the date of the beginning of the invasion. The statement of the department states that “on the morning of February 24, 2024, that is, on the anniversary of the beginning of the special military operation, one of the accomplices, on the instructions of the curator, found on Internet resources and sent him screenshots of images of the entrances to the Crocus City Hall building and access roads to him”. The message does not say what kind of curator this is, but it is confirmed that it was on his instructions that the “Crocus City Hall” near Moscow was chosen as the place where the attack was committed.

The Russian authorities insist that Ukraine was involved in the attack on Crocus, the victims of which, according to the latest data, were 144, despite the fact that the organization of the terrorist attack was carried out by the recognized terrorist group “Islamic State”. The detainees are not related to Ukraine in any way, they are natives of Central Asia. Previously, the only argument of the authorities in favor of the version about the Ukrainian trace was that after the terrorist attack, the alleged perpetrators left for the Bryansk region, bordering Ukraine. Kyiv categorically denies any connection with the attack on Crocus.

• The attack on the concert hall took place in the evening of March 22. More than 6,000 people were in the building. A group of armed people opened fire on visitors with automatic weapons. The building was set on fire. According to the latest data, 144 people died, more than 380 were injured. The Investigative Committee previously reported the detention of more than 10 suspects, including the likely perpetrators of the attack.
• The United States, which warned Russia about its preparations, is confident that IS organized the terrorist attack. Western countries call on Moscow to abandon the accusation against Ukraine.