Russia Claims West Aided Moscow Attackers

The chief of Russia’s FSB security agency alleged Tuesday that Western and Ukrainian special services assisted the assailants who stormed a Moscow music hall last week, killing dozens.

Russia continues to blame Ukraine for Friday’s atrocity, despite President Vladimir Putin admitting that “radical Islamists” were responsible.

“We believe the action was prepared both by the radical Islamists themselves and, of course, facilitated by Western special services, and Ukraine’s special services themselves have a direct connection to this,” FSB head Alexander Bortnikov was cited as saying by Russian news agencies.

He also repeated the Kremlin’s claim that the attackers tried fleeing over the Ukrainian border, an assertion that Kyiv has called absurd.

“I’ll let you in on a little secret: they were going to be greeted as heroes on the other side,” Bortnikov said.

He went on to say that, while Russia knew who organized the operation, “the one who ordered it has not been identified yet”.

He did not give evidence for his claims, and Ukraine has categorically denied any involvement.

Since Friday, Islamic State terrorists have repeatedly claimed responsibility, and IS-affiliated media channels have aired graphic videos of the gunmen inside the theater.

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