25 July 2019, 10:58
Investigators refute IS' involvement in attack on temple in Grozny
By the outcomes of studying the attack on the Archangel Michael Church in Grozny, the investigators in charge have concluded that the attackers had no links with the "Islamic State" (IS), a terrorist organization banned in Russia by the court, the "Kommersant" writes.
The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that on May 19, 2018, at an attempt to capture parishioners in the Grozny Archangel Michael Church, four militants were killed, as well as a parishioner and two policemen. According to law enforcers, the attack was committed by Chechen natives: the 18-year-old brothers Amir and Ali Yunusov, a 19-year-old Mikail Elisultanov, as well as an 18-year-old resident of Ingushetia Akhmed Tsechoev. The IS claimed responsibility for the attack.
The criminal case against Tsechoev, Elisultanov and Yunusov brothers was stopped because of their death. Investigators have found that the attackers had no links with the IS and Syrian militants; and the crime itself was spontaneous.
According to investigators, prior to the attack, the criminals took an oath so that none of them could refuse to participate; and only Tamerlan Bakaev, a student from Grozny, refused to swear and take part in attacking the temple and capturing the believers.
Earlier, analysts noted that the attack on the church in Grozny fits into the logic of actions committed by IS' proponents, but was in no way connected with the previous incident in Dagestan, for which the IS had also claimed responsibility.
This article was originally published on the Russian page of 24/7 Internet agency ‘Caucasian Knot’ on July 25, 2019 at 06:07 am MSK. To access the full text of the article, click here.
