Moscow shooting attack: 133 dead FAMILY’S PRISON DEATH ANGUISH AUTHORITIES PROBE DRUG-LINK IN FOUR OF SIX RECENT PRISON DEATHS
THE death toll has risen to at least 133 after an attack by assailants who burst into a Moscow concert hall and sprayed the crowd with gunfire, Russian officials said yesterday.
The head of Russia’s Federal Security Service (FSB) told Russian President Vladimir Putin that four people directly involved in the attack on the Crocus City Hall on Moscow’s western edge were among 11 detained in the aftermath, Russian state news agency Tass said.
The so-called Islamic State group (IS) claimed responsibility for the attack on Friday night in a statement posted on affiliated channels on social media.
Russian agencies appeared to suggest the attack was linked to Ukraine, despite the IS claim. A US intelligence official told the Associated Press that American agencies had confirmed IS was responsible for the assault.
The four suspects were stopped in the Bryansk region of western Russia, “not far from the border with Ukraine,” Russia’s Investigative Committee said. They planned to cross the border into Ukraine and “had contacts” there, state news agency Tass said, citing Russia’s FSB.
At least three children were among those killed in the attack on Friday night at the hall in Krasnogorsk, Russian authorities said.
Images shared by Russian state media showed a fleet of emergency vehicles still gathered outside the ruins of the hall, a shopping mall and music venue with a capacity of more than 6,000 people.
The attack comes just days after Mr Putin cemented his grip on power in a highly orchestrated electoral landslide.
A US intelligence official told The Associated Press that American agencies had learned the group’s branch in Afghanistan was planning an attack in Moscow and had shared the information with Russian officials.
The attack took place as crowds gathered for a performance by the Russian rock band Picnic.
Messages of outrage, shock and support for those affected have since streamed in from around the world.
The UN Security Council condemned “the heinous and cowardly terrorist attack” and underlined the need for the perpetrators to be held accountable. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres also condemned the terrorist attack “in the strongest possible terms”, his spokesman said.
THE family of an inmate who died at a Welsh prison claim they have received almost no information more than three weeks later. Jason Hussey, a 30-year-old dad-oftwo, is one of six prisoners to have died suddenly at Bridgend’s HMP Parc since February 27.
Authorities have said four of the prisoners’ deaths are believed to be drug-related and two are non-suspicious. But the family of Mr Hussey, who died on February 27, said they have not been told which category his death is in. His sister Jessica and brother Damien said there has been a “shocking” lack of communication from the privately-run prison. Jessica questioned why they had to find out from our website, WalesOnline, that some of the recent deaths were being linked to the psychoactive drug spice and super-strength synthetic opioids called nitazenes.
Jessica, a 27-year-old school worker, said: “He was due out on April 1 and he was so excited to be coming out. He was going to the gym, he was working as a cleaner in the wing, and he was doing well.
“The night he died he called our dad and said, ‘I love you Dad, I can’t wait for all of us to be together.’ That was at 8.30pm and apparently he was dead by 10pm. I can’t get my head around it.
“Jason was a strong boy. I never had any worries for him being in jail, I knew he was safe, but as soon as he was moved from HMP Swansea to Parc something crept over my body. I don’t know what it was.”
Jessica said Mr Hussey, who was raised in London but lived in Swansea as an adult, had raised concerns over
THE prison ombudsman is investigating 20 deaths at Parc since January 2022, including the six since February 27 this year.
With regard to the six deaths in recent weeks, on Friday authorities said they were looking into a potential drug-link in four of the cases, while the remaining two have been described as “non-suspicious” – but it has not yet been made public which of the deaths belong in which category.
In all four deaths in which the presence of a drug or drugs has the conditions of the prison. “He’d say, ‘Baby sis, it’s a state in here.’ He wouldn’t go into detail because he didn’t want to worry us.”
In December, Mr Hussey was sentenced to 18 weeks in prison after pleading guilty to an offence of disclosing or threatening to disclose private sexual photographs.
Jessica said he had been “in and out of jail” for some time and had struggled with ADHD (attention deficit hyperactivity disorder) but had appeared to be turning his life around.
He had previously been a cannabis smoker and had always “liked to party at weekends” but Jessica said there had been no indication from Mr Hussey’s phone calls that he was taking drugs while in custody.
Jessica claims the family have had almost no detail from G4S on the circumstances of Mr Hussey’s death, beyond the fact that it is “under investigation”. She claims the prison’s family liaison officer has been dismissive of the family’s pleas for information and “shown no compassion”.
A probation officer is under investigation for allegedly smuggling spice into Parc.
Detective Inspector Steve Jones, of South Wales Police, said: “At this stage we cannot confirm that the four deaths are connected to any specific drug.
“However, a fast-track process has been undertaken and identified the presence of nitazene-based substances in connection with all four deaths. Spice has been identified in been found, police say they have identified the super-strength street opioids called nitazenes.
Nitazenes can be up to 300 times stronger than heroin.
In December, several of them were classified as Class A drugs.
They were first detected in the UK from white powder found in the back of a Wakefield taxi in 2021 and, according to Sky News, they have since been found in heroin, cannabis, and most commonly in black market pills sold as the antianxiety drug diazepam. two of the four deaths.”
Mr Hussey’s elder brother Jamie died aged 13 following a 2003 hit and run in London.
Jessica said the tragedy “devastated” Mr Hussey and affected him for many years. She described her brother as a loving father who worked hard fixing cars and cared for his family.
The family are fundraising to help cover the funeral costs. Mr Hussey’s mother Jackie wrote on the Gofundme page (gofundme.com/f/jason-angelsend-off): “My son deserves at least the best send off and I’m personally using all my savings to do what I can so any help will help give my baby boy the better send off he deserves. If it’s £1 or £10 it means as a mother I can lay my boy to rest knowing he had the best!
Originally developed as a painkiller, nitazenes have never been approved for use as a medicine in the UK.
They have been linked to nine deaths in Scotland in the past six months.
Additionally, in two of the four Parc Prison deaths with a potential drug-link, the presence of “spice” was identified.
Spice, sometimes called the “zombie drug” because it can leave users contorted in unnatural positions for hours, is a synthetic
“You should never have to hold a funeral for your kids so please help me give him the one he deserves.”
A G4S spokeswoman said: “Mr Hussey’s next of kin were informed at the time of his death and a family liaison officer has been appointed to support them at this very difficult time.”
She added: “Our thoughts are with the families and friends of the prisoners who have died recently at Parc. We have a comprehensive drugs strategy and are working tirelessly to reduce supply and demand in the prison. This includes robust security measures, working with the police, and engaging substance misuse service providers and health partners to support those in our care. We welcome the Prison and Probation Ombudsman warning of the dangers of psychoactive drugs.” cannabinoid – a lab-created Class B substance designed to mimic cannabis.
On Friday, it emerged that a probation officer is under investigation for allegedly smuggling spice into Parc.
G4S, the private security firm that runs the jail, says the officer under investigation is from the probation service and not employed by the prison itself.
South Wales Police says there have been no arrests in connection with the deaths.