Vladimir Putin has described the attackers as “radical Islamists” for the first time. Listen to a Sky News podcast on the incident while you scroll. Two out of four Moscow concert hall attack suspects plead guilty in court If you’re just waking up, here’s a reminder of the latest after more than 130 people were killed in an attack on a concert hall outside Moscow on Friday.

Two out of four suspects have pleaded guilty after appearing in court charged with terror offences. All four suspects, from Tajikistan, have been remanded in custody until at least 22 May before facing trial, according to Russian authorities. Dalerdzhon Barotovich Mirzoyev, 32, Saidakrami Murodali Rachabalizoda, 30, Shamsidin Fariduni, 25, and Muhammadsobir Fayzov, 19, appeared at the Basmanny district court in Moscow yesterday.

The number of people killed in the attack on the Piknik rock concert at Crocus City Hall Krasnogorsk on Friday night has risen to 137. At least 154 people were injured, and more than 100 remain in hospital. Court officials said Mirzoyev and Rachabalizoda admitted guilt for the attack after being charged. The fourth suspect, Fayzov, was brought to court directly from a hospital in a wheelchair.

Medical staff stayed with Fayzov while he was in court, where he wore a hospital gown and trousers. He appeared to have a number of cuts. The other three suspects appeared in court heavily bruised with swollen faces amid reports in Russian media that they were tortured during interrogation by the security services. Video footage showed them being dragged through the court building before the hearing.

By Olive Enokido-Lineham, OSINT producer – An expert has told Sky News the attack on a Moscow concert hall is consistent with Islamic State. Sky News has analysed ISIS footage of the attack and an image released by the militant group, and spoken to experts about what the materials reveal. Aaron Zelin, an expert on jihadist groups and senior fellow at the Washington Institute for Near East Policy, said “the attack itself, the type of people involved, the style of the attack and the media campaign” is all “Islamic State modus operandi”.

ISIS has said it carried out the attack, and US officials have said their intelligence indicates that an Afghan affiliate, Islamic State Khorasan (ISIS-K), was responsible. Putin is ‘losing credibility’ over Moscow concert attack – Despite IS claiming responsibility for the Moscow concert hall attack, Russia has continually placed the blame on Ukraine.

Earlier, Vladimir Putin said the perpetrators were “radical Islamists”, but claimed the shootings fit into a wider campaign of intimidation by Ukraine. Washington’s former ambassador to Moscow Michael McFaul said the Russian president was playing “a little bit of a dangerous” game by assuming his people will continue to accept his “false information”.

Courtesy: Sky News