French President Emmanuel Macron said on 25 March that France has information indicating that the attack on the Crocus City venue in Russia was planned and carried out by the international terrorist organization Islamic State.
Macron also warned Russia against accusing Ukraine of this attack.
The shooting attack occurred on the evening of 22 March when crowds gathered for a concert at the Crocus City Hall concert center on the outskirts of Moscow. Ukraine has dismissed the allegations of its involvement in the mass shooting. The White House also confirmed that there was no indication that Ukraine was behind the Moscow attack.
Macron told journalists that the group that carried out the terrorist attack in Russia had also attempted to carry out several attacks in France.
The French president also cautioned Russia against any “exploitation” of the attack, stating that it would be “cynical and counterproductive for Russia to try to turn this context against Ukraine.”
The international terrorist organization Islamic State had claimed responsibility for the attack on Crocus City.
Russia’s Federal Security Service (FSB) claimed that the individuals involved in the attack “planned to cross the Russian-Ukrainian border” and “had contacts on the Ukrainian side.” Russian President Vladimir Putin later supported this version.
Ukraine’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs “categorically” rejected the accusations from Russian officials about Ukraine’s alleged “involvement” in the shooting at the Crocus City Hall concert venue.
The Institute for the Study of War (ISW) reported on 23 March that “the Islamic State (IS) is very likely responsible for the Crocus City Hall attack.”
According to ISW, “The Amaq News Agency announcement is consistent in terms of style, branding, and language with previous Amaq claims for other attacks.” The conduct of the attack itself is also consistent with previous IS attacks, including the 2015 Paris terror attacks, ISW reported.
The attack on Crocus City Hall is the largest terrorist attack in Russia since the 2004 Beslan school attack, which killed over 300 people.
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