Turkey detains 147 ISIS-linked suspects following deadly Moscow attack

By richardbrown // 2024-03-29

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Turkish authorities have arrested 147 individuals suspected of having ties with ISIS as part of a crackdown following a deadly attack in Moscow last week. Turkish Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya announced the detentions, which were carried out as part of the "BOZDOGAN-17" operation spanning 30 provinces. Between June 1, 2023, and March 25, 2024, Turkey conducted 1,329 operations against ISIS militants, resulting in the detention of 2,919 suspects. Of these, 692 were arrested, 531 were subjected to judicial control decisions, and legal proceedings are ongoing for 187 individuals. Yerlikaya emphasized Turkey's ongoing commitment to combating terrorism. "We organize operations 365 days a year, 4 seasons, 12 months, day and night. Our fight against terrorism will continue with determination until the last terrorist is neutralized," he said. The terrorist attack in Moscow on March 23, where gunmen opened fire at concertgoers in Crocus City Hall, has been claimed by the ISIS affiliate group Islamic State Khorasan Province (ISIS-K). Russian authorities have accused Ukraine of orchestrating the attack and utilizing militants as proxies, with the death toll reaching 140 as of Wednesday, March 27. (Related: Russian media group head insists ISIS was not behind attack on Moscow concert hall.)

Two of the suspected attackers visited Istanbul

Investigations have revealed that two of the attackers had visited Istanbul from Moscow before the attack to renew their visa-free stay in Russia. Turkish authorities, however, stated that there were no alerts against the suspects, allowing them to freely travel between Turkey and Russia. Both gunmen, Saidakrami Murodali Rachabalizoda and Shamsidin Fariduni, are of Tajik origin and traveled to Turkey from Russia in February, returning to Moscow on the same flight on March 2. Turkish officials believe that the individuals were radicalized in Russia, given the briefness of their stay in Turkey. Turkish authorities have conducted a thorough investigation into the militants' activities during their stay and have shared their findings with Moscow. The attack has already become another battleground in the ongoing information war among Russia, Ukraine and Ukraine's Western allies, including the United States. The circumstances and timing of the attack, along with the alleged perpetrators, have created fertile ground for conspiracy theories. The assault took place at the Crocus City Hall theater just outside Moscow during a concert by the Russian rock band Piknik. Gunmen wearing tactical gear and armed with automatic weapons opened fire on concertgoers and set fire to the building. The horrifying videos circulating on social media depict the attackers firing on defenseless individuals crouched on the ground. With over 100 people wounded, the death toll is expected to rise. The attack already surpasses the death toll of the 2002 Moscow theater hostage crisis, bearing disturbing resemblances to that event. It is likely to be the second-worst terrorist attack in Russian history after the 2004 Beslan school hostage crisis, which resulted in over 300 deaths. The Islamic State terrorist network, particularly its Afghan affiliate known as the Islamic State in Khorasan (ISIS-K), has claimed responsibility for the attack. U.S. intelligence officials believe it to be the work of ISIS-K, a claim supported by the release of bodycam footage of the attack by ISIS. The attack has triggered a flurry of accusations and denials between Russia and Ukraine. While some Russian officials hint at Ukrainian involvement, Ukrainian authorities firmly deny any connection. The timing of the attack, shortly after Putin's reelection and amid a shift in the rhetoric regarding the conflict in Ukraine, has fueled speculation about its motives and perpetrators. While there is little evidence to suggest Ukrainian involvement or a false flag operation by Russia, the attack has intensified the ongoing propaganda war between the two countries. It has also drawn attention to the U.S. embassy warning issued earlier, leading to speculation about American involvement in the attack. Watch this report about the 40 suspected ISIS members detained in Turkey. This video is from the Cynthia's Pursuit of Truth channel on Brighteon.com.

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Two of the suspected attackers visited Istanbul

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