Türkiye helped Russia prevent a new terrorist attack after Crocus

Photo: Flowers and toys at Crocus City Hall in Krasnogorsk near Moscow

Turkish intelligence services warned Russia about a second terrorist attack being prepared after the attack on Crocus City Hall. The Turkish newspaper Hurriyet writes about this, Radio Liberty reports.

According to the publication, the terrorists planned to attack a crowded shopping center. This information, according to Hurriyet, was received from five detained supporters of the recognized terrorist group Vilayat Khorasan. – the Afghan cell of the Islamic State, which claimed responsibility for the terrorist attack in Crocus City Hall March 22. The newspaper does not provide any other details.

Hurriyet also notes that the Turkish intelligence services, which have long monitored the activities of Vilayat Khorasan, after the attack on the Santa Maria Church in Istanbul in January 2024, interrogated a number of individuals and established contact with the Russian side.

Previously It was reported that two people detained in the case of an attack on Crocus City Hall citizens of Tajikistan traveled to Turkey. After the terrorist attack in Russia, Turkish authorities carried out several operations against supporters of the Islamic State, and about 200 people were detained.

On March 22, several people armed with machine guns burst into a concert hall on the outskirts of Moscow, where a concert of the rock group Picnic was to take place, and opened fire on the assembled spectators. Then they set the hall on fire. A huge fire started, causing the roof of the building to collapse. According to the latest data, 144 people were killed.

The Islamic State terrorist group claimed responsibility for the attack. The United States and other Western countries consider this version to be the most likely.

Russian authorities believe that Ukraine may be involved in the terrorist attack in the concert hall. Kyiv categorically denies this.

Shortly before the attack on Crocus intelligence services of several Western countries, including the United States, warned the Russian authorities about the high probability of terrorist attacks in the country. Then Vladimir Putin called this information “blackmail” and "intent to intimidate and destabilize" Russian society.

Prepared by: Sergey Daga