Moscow concert attack: Russia casts suspicion towards Ukraine, questions ISIS involvement

Russia questions the United States' claims that the Islamic State (ISIS) is responsible for the attack on the concert venue near Moscow, shifting attention to Ukraine, Reuters agency reported. ISIS has claimed responsibility for the attack and published a video from the event. The United States has publicly accepted this version of events.

The spokesperson for the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Maria Zakharova, expressed doubts about the involvement of the Islamic State, suggesting that Kyiv was involved in the attack. "Are you sure it was ISIS? Can you reconsider?" - the official asked in an interview with the "Komsomolskaya Pravda" newspaper. Zakharova added that the Americans are promoting the version involving the Islamic State to cover up their "protégés" in Kyiv.

Four men broke into Crocus City Hall during a concert by the band "Piknik" on Friday evening. The attackers opened fire, leading to 137 deaths and around 180 injuries. Suspects, including at least one from Tajikistan, were arrested on Sunday.

Reuters reports that American officials had warned Moscow of an impending terrorist attack earlier in the month, based on intelligence data. Russian leader, Vladimir Putin, in a special appearance after the attack at Crocus City Hall, did not mention the Islamic fighters.

PAP reported that Putin repeated information previously announced by the Federal Security Service and said that, in connection with the attack, 11 people were arrested, and the four direct perpetrators "tried to hide and moved towards Ukraine," where a route for them to cross the border on the Ukrainian side was allegedly prepared. Kyiv denied playing any role in Friday's attack.

Source: Reuters, PAP, WP News