Russia may ask Pak to hand over Crocus attack mastermind

A Pakistan link to last year's terror strike in Russia's Moscow region has emerged. This may prompt Russia to approach Islamabad to hand over the mastermind of the attack, a native of Tajikistan who has allegedly slipped into Pakistan from Afghanistan.

The terror attack in the Crocus City Hall near Moscow in March last year killed several unarmed civilians. The attack was carried out by supporters of the Afghan branch of Islamic State (IS)-Vilayat Khorasan.

There are reports that the Pakistani authorities may have detained him. The Russian authorities are verifying the information and may soon approach Islamabad to hand over the mastermind of the worst terror attack in Russia in recent years, ET has learnt. Moscow had earlier approached Afghanistan to hand over the mastermind of Crocus terror attack but the extremist operative had allegedly slipped into Pakistan by the time Kabul could nab him, sources familiar with the matter claimed.