Moscow terrorist attack: Russia blames foreigners, denies local involvement
The Russian Ministry of Internal Affairs denies rumours that the four main detainees after the terrorist attack are Russians. "These pieces of information are not true. All of them are foreigners," it was stated in the announcement.
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Attention! Many reports about alleged attacks and aggression on the part of Ukraine and the course of the war, which are broadcast by Russian and Belarusian state media, are probably not accurate. Such reports may be part of an information war by the Russian Federation.
According to the latest data released on Saturday by the Russian Investigative Committee, as a result of the terrorist attack on the Crocus City Hall concert hall in Krasnogorsk near Moscow on Friday, about 133 people died. The Islamic State organisation claimed responsibility for the attack.
"Information was spread in various channels on Telegram and in social networks that the four suspects in the attack on Crocus City Hall, who fled in a Renault Logan and were detained in the Bryansk region, are Russian citizens. This information is not true. All of them are foreigners," wrote MSW spokeswoman Irina Volk on Telegram.
Americans warned of a possible attack
The American administration had warned the Russian authorities about a planned attack in Russia in recent weeks. "The US authorities passed on information about a planned attack in Moscow in March," said Adrienne Watson, spokesperson for the National Security Council, on Friday. The information referred to the possibility of attacks during concerts.
"The versions of the Russian special services about the alleged connections of Ukraine with the attack in Russia are indefensible and absurd," declared the adviser to the head of the Ukrainian president's office, Mykhailo Podoliak. The FSB earlier reported that the fleeing terrorists were heading towards Ukraine and "had contacts on the Ukrainian side."
The Ukrainian Ministry of Foreign Affairs categorically rejects accusations from representatives of the Russian authorities that Ukraine is involved in the terrorist attack at Crocus City Hall. "We consider such accusations a planned provocation by the Kremlin," wrote the foreign ministry in a statement published late Friday evening.
