05:24Mandatory credit: Russian Federal Security Service
Russian Federal Security Service (FSB) head Alexander Bortnikov claimed that Ukraine's military intelligence had a 'direct involvement' in the terrorist attack at the Crocus City Hall, while speaking at a CIS Security and Special Services Heads Council meeting in Bishkek on Friday.
"On March 22 of this year, a devastating terrorist attack occurred at Crocus City Hall near Moscow. <...> Following the attack, the terrorists were instructed to head towards the Ukrainian border, where arrangements had been made for their passage. While the investigation is still underway, we can already confidently assert the direct involvement of Ukrainian military intelligence in orchestrating this attack," the department's head said.
Bortnikov added that the investigation had so far resulted in the detention of 20 people, including the alleged perpetrators and accomplices.
"During our investigation, which benefited from the direct support of our partners in Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan, it was determined that the planning, funding, execution, and subsequent escape of the terrorists were orchestrated online by members of Wilayat Khorasan (an ISIS affiliate) located in the Afghan-Pakistani region," the FSB chief stated.
Late on March 22, unidentified individuals dressed in military fatigues opened fire in the Crocus City Hall, a 6,000-seat multipurpose concert hall where a Russian rock band was set to perform. A massive fire broke out in the building shortly after. 144 people were reported to have been killed while several suspects were captured and remanded in custody.
Following the attack, the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry said it 'categorically denies' all accusations of involvement.
US national security spokesperson John Kirby called the Russian Investigative Committee's allegations about Kiev's culpability 'nonsense and propaganda'. Earlier, the United States claimed that it was a 'terrorist attack that was conducted by ISIS' and that there was 'absolutely no evidence that the government of Ukraine had anything to do with this attack'.
Ukraine's military intelligence 'directly involved' in Crocus City Hall terrorist attack - FSB chief Bortnikov
Russian Federal Security Service (FSB) head Alexander Bortnikov claimed that Ukraine's military intelligence had a 'direct involvement' in the terrorist attack at the Crocus City Hall, while speaking at a CIS Security and Special Services Heads Council meeting in Bishkek on Friday.
"On March 22 of this year, a devastating terrorist attack occurred at Crocus City Hall near Moscow. <...> Following the attack, the terrorists were instructed to head towards the Ukrainian border, where arrangements had been made for their passage. While the investigation is still underway, we can already confidently assert the direct involvement of Ukrainian military intelligence in orchestrating this attack," the department's head said.
Bortnikov added that the investigation had so far resulted in the detention of 20 people, including the alleged perpetrators and accomplices.
"During our investigation, which benefited from the direct support of our partners in Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan, it was determined that the planning, funding, execution, and subsequent escape of the terrorists were orchestrated online by members of Wilayat Khorasan (an ISIS affiliate) located in the Afghan-Pakistani region," the FSB chief stated.
Late on March 22, unidentified individuals dressed in military fatigues opened fire in the Crocus City Hall, a 6,000-seat multipurpose concert hall where a Russian rock band was set to perform. A massive fire broke out in the building shortly after. 144 people were reported to have been killed while several suspects were captured and remanded in custody.
Following the attack, the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry said it 'categorically denies' all accusations of involvement.
US national security spokesperson John Kirby called the Russian Investigative Committee's allegations about Kiev's culpability 'nonsense and propaganda'. Earlier, the United States claimed that it was a 'terrorist attack that was conducted by ISIS' and that there was 'absolutely no evidence that the government of Ukraine had anything to do with this attack'.
Mandatory credit: Russian Federal Security Service
Russian Federal Security Service (FSB) head Alexander Bortnikov claimed that Ukraine's military intelligence had a 'direct involvement' in the terrorist attack at the Crocus City Hall, while speaking at a CIS Security and Special Services Heads Council meeting in Bishkek on Friday.
"On March 22 of this year, a devastating terrorist attack occurred at Crocus City Hall near Moscow. <...> Following the attack, the terrorists were instructed to head towards the Ukrainian border, where arrangements had been made for their passage. While the investigation is still underway, we can already confidently assert the direct involvement of Ukrainian military intelligence in orchestrating this attack," the department's head said.
Bortnikov added that the investigation had so far resulted in the detention of 20 people, including the alleged perpetrators and accomplices.
"During our investigation, which benefited from the direct support of our partners in Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan, it was determined that the planning, funding, execution, and subsequent escape of the terrorists were orchestrated online by members of Wilayat Khorasan (an ISIS affiliate) located in the Afghan-Pakistani region," the FSB chief stated.
Late on March 22, unidentified individuals dressed in military fatigues opened fire in the Crocus City Hall, a 6,000-seat multipurpose concert hall where a Russian rock band was set to perform. A massive fire broke out in the building shortly after. 144 people were reported to have been killed while several suspects were captured and remanded in custody.
Following the attack, the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry said it 'categorically denies' all accusations of involvement.
US national security spokesperson John Kirby called the Russian Investigative Committee's allegations about Kiev's culpability 'nonsense and propaganda'. Earlier, the United States claimed that it was a 'terrorist attack that was conducted by ISIS' and that there was 'absolutely no evidence that the government of Ukraine had anything to do with this attack'.