But experts said Moscow was just as likely as Islamic State to have carried out the attack at a theatre that killed 133 people on Friday.
About 6,000 Russians had flocked to Crocus City Hall in Krasnogorsk, near Moscow, for a concert by rock group Picnic.
Survivors of the attack told how camouflage-clad gunmen carrying automatic rifles entered the venue several minutes before the performance was due to start.
They opened fire on the concourse, before setting off explosives that engulfed the building in flames.
One report said 28 bodies were found in a toilet and 14 on a staircase, adding: "Mothers were found embracing their children."
A woman told how she was buying ice cream with her 11-year-old daughter when someone shouted to get down on the floor.
This story is from the March 24, 2024 edition of Sunday Express.
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This story is from the March 24, 2024 edition of Sunday Express.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
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