In the aftermath of the deadly gun attack on a concert hall outside Moscow, Russia has raised doubts about assertions made by the United States regarding the involvement of the Islamic State militant group. The attack, which claimed the lives of 137 people and left 182 others injured, marks the deadliest incident inside Russia in two decades.

The assailants, four men, stormed into the Crocus City Hall on Friday night, opening fire indiscriminately just before the performance of the Soviet-era rock group Picnic was set to begin. Following the attack, four suspects, including at least one individual from Tajikistan, were apprehended by Russian authorities and remanded in custody for terrorism charges. They were brought separately to Moscow's Basmanny district court, where they appeared in a cage escorted by officers from the Federal Security Service.

While the Islamic State claimed responsibility for the attack and released footage purportedly from the incident, President Vladimir Putin refrained from directly attributing the assault to the militant group. Instead, Putin stated that the attackers were attempting to flee to Ukraine and suggested that individuals on "the Ukrainian side" were complicit in aiding their escape. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy has vehemently denied any involvement in the attack and accused Putin of attempting to shift blame.

In response to the U.S. assertion linking ISIS to the attack, Russia's Foreign Ministry spokesperson, Maria Zakharova, questioned the validity of this claim. Zakharova raised doubts about the U.S. intelligence and suggested that the Islamic State narrative was being used as a cover for other agendas, alluding to Washington's support for mujahideen fighters during the Soviet-Afghan War in the 1980s.

Meanwhile, unverified videos circulated on social media showing the interrogation of the suspects, with one individual depicted having part of his ear cut off and stuffed into his mouth. Among the detained individuals were Tajik nationals, including Dalerdzhon Mirzoyev, Saidakrami Rachabalizoda, Muhammadsobir Fayzov, and Shamsiddin Fariduni.

The attack has further heightened tensions between Russia and Western nations, particularly amid the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. As Russia faces scrutiny over its handling of the situation, the French government has raised its terror alert warning to its highest level in response to the shootings in Moscow.

The investigation into the concert hall attack continues as authorities work to uncover the motives and perpetrators behind this tragic incident.