The attack on a concert hall near Moscow killed at least 144 people (Reuters)

Russian authorities said that foreign fighters were arrested in Dagestan involved in financing an attack that took place last month on a concert hall near Moscow, while Reuters quoted 3 informed sources as saying that Iran had informed Russia of the possibility of a major “terrorist operation” taking place on its territory before that attack. .

TASS news agency quoted the Russian Federal Security Service as saying - today, Monday - that foreign fighters were arrested - yesterday, Sunday - in the Dagestan region in southern Russia and were involved in financing an attack that took place last month on a concert hall near Moscow.

Interfax reported, citing the agency, that one of the four detained men admitted that he personally brought weapons to the attackers.

The Russian authorities said - yesterday, Sunday - that they had arrested a group of men who were planning to carry out violent acts, but they did not reveal their nationalities.

The four men, whom Russia accuses of carrying out the attack, are ethnic Tajiks.

Iranian warning

On the other hand, Reuters quoted three informed sources as saying that Iran informed Russia of the possibility of a major “terrorist operation” taking place on its territory before that attack.

Gunmen opened fire with automatic weapons on concert-goers on March 22 inside Crocus City Hall, killing at least 144 people in the deadliest attack on Russian soil in 20 years, for which the Islamic State claimed responsibility.

The United States also warned Russia of a possible attack, but Moscow - which is in sharp disagreement with Washington - downplayed the importance of this information. But it is difficult for Russia to ignore intelligence information received from its ally Iran regarding the attack.

One of the sources said, "Days before the attack in Russia, Tehran provided information to Moscow about a possible major terrorist attack inside Russia, which was obtained during the interrogation of detainees in connection with deadly bombings in Iran."

Last January, Iran arrested 35 people in connection with two bombings that occurred on January 3 in the city of Kerman, southeast of the country, killing about 100 people. Among those detained is the leader of an Islamic State branch known as the Islamic State-Khorasan Province in Afghanistan.

The Islamic State claimed responsibility for the bombings in Iran, the deadliest since the Islamic Revolution in 1979. American intelligence sources said that the Islamic State - Khorasan Province carried out the January 3 attacks in Iran and the March 22 shootings in Moscow.

American confirmation

A second source - who also requested that his identity not be published due to the sensitivity of the issue - said that the information Tehran provided to Moscow about an imminent attack lacked specific details regarding the timing and precise target.

This source added, "They (ISIS-Khorasan Province members) received instructions to prepare for a major operation in Russia. One of the terrorists (who was arrested in Iran) said that some of the group's members had already traveled to Russia."

A third source - a senior security official - said, "Since Iran has been the victim of terrorist attacks for years, the Iranian authorities have fulfilled their obligation to alert Moscow based on the information obtained from the arrested terrorists."

A source familiar with US intelligence information about the impending attack in Russia said that the information was based on the interception of conversations between fighters of the Islamic State - Khorasan Province.

In defiance of US assertions, Russia said it believed Ukraine was linked to the attack, without providing evidence. Kiev strongly denied this assertion.

The two attacks in Kerman and near Moscow included the participation of elements from Tajikistan. A diplomatic source in Tajikistan confirmed that Tehran recently discussed with Dushanbe the issue of increasing the involvement of ethnic Tajiks in armed activities.

On the other hand, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said - today, Monday - that he has no information about an Iranian warning to Moscow about a “terrorist operation” in Russia before the concert hall massacre occurred, he said.

Source: Reuters