Nine people have been arrested in Tajikistan’s capital Dushanbe on suspicion of links to the attack on a concert hall near Moscow that killed 144 people, Russia’s RIA Novosti said on Friday, citing security sources.
A source said the men were from the Vakhdat region, and had connections to the suspects accused of carrying out the attack.
The nine suspects were arrested with the assistance of Russian security forces and investigations are continuing, according to the source.
Russian President Vladimir Putin said after the March 22 attack that the perpetrators were arrested, and alleged they had tried to flee to Ukraine.
He also stated 11 people have been arrested on charges of carrying out the attack and security forces were working to identify all involved.
Weapons used in the terrorist attack were prepared in advance, according to Russian security services.
Russia’s national security also claimed the attack was carried out with the direct involvement of Western and Ukrainian intelligence, stating the Islamists could not have staged such an attack in Russia without the aid of other parties.
Ukraine has denied any connection to the attack.
