Investigative report suggests Russia had prior warning of ISIS threat before Moscow concert hall attack
In a shocking revelation, the Dossier Center, a UK-based investigative organization, has claimed that Russian authorities had prior knowledge of a potential ISIS threat days before a devastating terrorist attack occurred at Crocus City Hall near Moscow, resulting in the death of 143 individuals on March 22. The Dossier Center, known for its critical stance against Russian leadership under Vladimir Putin and led by exiled former Russian oil tycoon Mikhail Khodorkovsky, accessed Russian intelligence documents that allegedly point to the involvement of ISIS-K, a Central Asian faction of the terror group ISIS. Following the attack, ISIS took responsibility, supporting its claim with statements, photos, and a propaganda video filmed by the assailants.
Reports, including one from the Sun, highlighted that the attackers used a drug known for ‘disabling fear,’ enabling them to carry out the shooting without hesitation. This detail adds a chilling dimension to the already gruesome attack that shocked the world. The Dossier Center’s investigation revealed that members of the Security Council received warnings that Tajik citizens could be utilized for terrorist attacks on Russian soil, a claim supported by information from a source close to the intelligence services even before the attack on Crocus City Hall.
The Russian government has dismissed these warnings as “provocative,” labeling the actions as a form of blackmail intended to intimidate and destabilize society. However, the capture of four suspects from Tajikistan, present in Russia on temporary or expired visas, corroborates the concerns raised by the U.S., which had previously warned Russia of a possible attack under its “duty to warn” policy.
The incident has given rise to criticism from Putin’s opponents, suggesting that the Russian government could have taken preventive measures had it heeded the numerous warnings. Former Russian lawmaker Ilya Ponomarev, an exiled Kremlin critic, emphasized the clear indications that were overlooked, suggesting a possible lapse in response from Vladimir Putin’s administration.
This incident underscores a critical issue in global security and intelligence-sharing practices. The alleged prior knowledge of a threat and the subsequent devastating attack highlight the complex nature of responding to terrorist threats, especially when it involves coordination and action based on intelligence reports. The claims made by the Dossier Center, if substantiated, could indicate a significant failure in preemptive security measures, raising questions about the efficacy of intelligence operations and the political will to act upon such information.