Russian intelligence chief says more than 20 people arrested over deadly concert attack | ISIL/ISIS news

Russia declares for the first time that IS coordinated the attack on the concert hall in Moscow, in which more than 140 people died.

Russia has arrested more than 20 people in connection with an attack at a concert hall near Moscow in March that killed more than 140 people, the head of Russia’s FSB intelligence agency said, adding for the first time that the terrorist group ISIL (ISIS) coordinated the attack.

IS has repeatedly claimed responsibility for the March 22 attack, but Russia has repeatedly tried to link Ukraine and the West to the attack.

FSB chief Alexander Bortnikov was quoted by the Ria Novosti news agency on Friday as saying: “The preparations, financing, attack and retreat of the terrorists were coordinated via the Internet by members of Khorasan Province (ISKP or ISIS-K), a branch of IS active in Afghanistan and Pakistan.

Bortnikov did not rule out the Ukrainian aspect in his statements on Friday and did not provide any evidence for it. He said: “After the attack was completed, the terrorists received clear instructions to move towards the Ukrainian border, where a ‘window’ had been prepared for them on the other side.”

“The investigation is ongoing, but one can already say with certainty that Ukrainian military intelligence is directly involved in the attack,” he said.

Kyiv dismissed the accusation as absurd.

Four attackers shot at concertgoers at the Crocus City Hall near Moscow on March 22 and then set the venue on fire. It was the deadliest attack in Russia in 20 years.

While pointing the finger at Ukraine, Bortnikov also said, according to Russian news agencies, that the preparation, financing, actual attack and the shooters’ escape attempt were coordinated by ISKP via the Internet.

Andriy Yusov, spokesman for the Ukrainian military intelligence service, said on national television on Thursday: “Russian propaganda has not forgotten the Crocus story. It will continue to try to put forward the absurd point of view about Ukraine’s alleged complicity, although it does not stand up to criticism and is completely illogical.”

The suspects held by Russia include the four alleged shooters, all Tajik citizens, whose detention was extended last week until August 22. A date for their trial has not yet been set.

The United States said it warned Russia both publicly and privately in early March that an armed group was planning an attack on a concert hall in Moscow.

Anonymous US intelligence officials told US media after the killings that they had told Moscow that IS specifically wanted to attack Crocus City Hall and that Russia had ignored these warnings.

Just three days before the attack, President Vladimir Putin accused Washington of “blackmailing” and “intimidating” the Russians.