٠٠:٠٢:١٤President Vladimir Putin claimed that the Crocus City Hall attack was an attempt to 'undermine the unity' of Russia, speaking at a meeting of the 12th Congress of the Federation of Independent Trade Unions in Moscow on Thursday.
"Given the ongoing investigation's findings, it becomes evident that the primary objective of the perpetrators behind the brutal terrorist attack in Moscow was to undermine our unity," Putin said, noting that unity was the 'fundamental condition for progress' in the country.
The president added that Russia was an unlikely target for 'attacks by Islamic fundamentalists', as the country prided itself on its 'model of interfaith, inter-religious, and interethnic harmony'.
"However, the clear objective of destabilising Russian societal unity, particularly in contemporary times, is unmistakable", added the head of the state.
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.
Over 140 people were reported to have been killed while several suspects were captured and remanded in custody until May 22 on charges of 'terrorism'.
Putin himself said it was a 'barbaric terrorist act' and that suspects had been caught trying to cross to Ukraine. While he added that 'radical Islamists' were responsible, he also hit out at the US for 'trying through various channels to convince its satellites and other countries of the world that, according to their intelligence, there is allegedly no trace of Kiev in the Moscow terrorist attack'.
"We want to know who ordered it," he added, while the Russian Investigative Committee subsequently said it had evidence of links to 'Ukrainian nationalists'.
Following the attack, the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry said it 'categorically denies' accusations of Kiev’s involvement. US national security spokesperson John Kirby called the Russian Investigative Committee's allegations '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'.
'Brutal terrorist attack' at Crocus City Hall aimed 'to undermine our unity' - Putin
President Vladimir Putin claimed that the Crocus City Hall attack was an attempt to 'undermine the unity' of Russia, speaking at a meeting of the 12th Congress of the Federation of Independent Trade Unions in Moscow on Thursday.
"Given the ongoing investigation's findings, it becomes evident that the primary objective of the perpetrators behind the brutal terrorist attack in Moscow was to undermine our unity," Putin said, noting that unity was the 'fundamental condition for progress' in the country.
The president added that Russia was an unlikely target for 'attacks by Islamic fundamentalists', as the country prided itself on its 'model of interfaith, inter-religious, and interethnic harmony'.
"However, the clear objective of destabilising Russian societal unity, particularly in contemporary times, is unmistakable", added the head of the state.
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.
Over 140 people were reported to have been killed while several suspects were captured and remanded in custody until May 22 on charges of 'terrorism'.
Putin himself said it was a 'barbaric terrorist act' and that suspects had been caught trying to cross to Ukraine. While he added that 'radical Islamists' were responsible, he also hit out at the US for 'trying through various channels to convince its satellites and other countries of the world that, according to their intelligence, there is allegedly no trace of Kiev in the Moscow terrorist attack'.
"We want to know who ordered it," he added, while the Russian Investigative Committee subsequently said it had evidence of links to 'Ukrainian nationalists'.
Following the attack, the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry said it 'categorically denies' accusations of Kiev’s involvement. US national security spokesperson John Kirby called the Russian Investigative Committee's allegations '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'.
President Vladimir Putin claimed that the Crocus City Hall attack was an attempt to 'undermine the unity' of Russia, speaking at a meeting of the 12th Congress of the Federation of Independent Trade Unions in Moscow on Thursday.
"Given the ongoing investigation's findings, it becomes evident that the primary objective of the perpetrators behind the brutal terrorist attack in Moscow was to undermine our unity," Putin said, noting that unity was the 'fundamental condition for progress' in the country.
The president added that Russia was an unlikely target for 'attacks by Islamic fundamentalists', as the country prided itself on its 'model of interfaith, inter-religious, and interethnic harmony'.
"However, the clear objective of destabilising Russian societal unity, particularly in contemporary times, is unmistakable", added the head of the state.
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.
Over 140 people were reported to have been killed while several suspects were captured and remanded in custody until May 22 on charges of 'terrorism'.
Putin himself said it was a 'barbaric terrorist act' and that suspects had been caught trying to cross to Ukraine. While he added that 'radical Islamists' were responsible, he also hit out at the US for 'trying through various channels to convince its satellites and other countries of the world that, according to their intelligence, there is allegedly no trace of Kiev in the Moscow terrorist attack'.
"We want to know who ordered it," he added, while the Russian Investigative Committee subsequently said it had evidence of links to 'Ukrainian nationalists'.
Following the attack, the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry said it 'categorically denies' accusations of Kiev’s involvement. US national security spokesperson John Kirby called the Russian Investigative Committee's allegations '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'.