Opinion
Insightful stories of the most pressing local, regional, and international developments brought to you by Sputnik.

Chadian Political Analyst Calls Crocus City Hall Terrorist Attack Near Moscow 'Western Initiative'

A shooting occurred on Friday evening in the Crocus City Hall concert venue, in the city of Krasnogorsk, outside Moscow, followed by a massive fire. As the rubble of the concert hall was being cleared, the death toll from the terrorist attack rose to 133, according to Russia's Investigative Committee.
Sputnik
Friday's terrorist attack on Crocus City Hall is an initiative of Western countries "trying to manipulate weak-minded people," Chadian political analyst Yakhoub Adoum Chiguefat told Sputnik Africa.
"This is a Western initiative to thwart Russia from within. It is also intended to naively prove to Russia that there are limits to what it can do in its quest for power," he said.
Now the Western countries "say it's Daesh*, and how did they know that, at the very moment when these actions took place?" the expert asked.
After Friday's attack before a concert at the Crocus City Hall in Krasnogorsk, near Moscow, several Western media outlets, citing anonymous US officials, blamed Daesh.
Is Daesh Responsible for Moscow Terrorist Attack? Military Expert Answers
Eleven people were detained in connection with the attack, including four who were directly involved, the Russian Federal Security Service (FSB) said.
FSB added that after the terrorist attack, the criminals intended to cross the border between Russia and Ukraine through relevant contacts in Ukraine.
One of the terrorist suspects detained said he shot people at the concert venue for money. At first, the man stated he was promised 500,000 rubles ($5,400), but only half of the promised amount had been transferred to his card. However, later, the suspect said he had been promised about 1 million rubles ($10,830).
Russian President Vladimir Putin called the events "bloody and barbaric" terrorist attack and declared March 24 a day of nationwide mourning for the victims.
*A terrorist organization banned in Russia and many other states.