According to Russian intelligence chief, more than 20 people were arrested after deadly concert attack

MOSCOW (Reuters) – Russia has arrested more than 20 people in connection with an attack claimed by Islamic State at a concert hall near Moscow in March that killed more than 140 people, the head of Russia’s FSB intelligence service said on Friday.

Alexander Bortnikov repeated the Russian claim that Ukraine was behind the attack, although Russia has not provided any evidence for this. Kyiv rejected this claim as absurd.

“The investigation is ongoing, but it can already be said with certainty that the Ukrainian military intelligence service is directly involved in this attack,” the state news agency TASS quoted Bortnikov as saying.

On March 22, four attackers gunned down concertgoers at the Crocus City Hall near Moscow and then set the venue on fire, 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 gunmen’s escape attempt were coordinated via the Internet by the Islamic State Khorasan, the Afghan branch of the militant group.

Andriy Yusov, spokesman for Ukrainian military intelligence, said on national television on Thursday:

“Russian propaganda has not forgotten the Crocus story. It will continue to try to put forward the absurd position of alleged Ukrainian complicity, although this 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.

(Additional reporting by Tom Balmforth, Writing by Mark Trevelyan, Editing by Frances Kerry)