The Russian Investigative Committee said that large sums of money from Ukraine were transferred to suspects in the Moscow terrorist attack.
One of the terrorist suspects appeared in court in Moscow (Photo: Reuters).
On March 28, the Russian Investigative Committee announced the initial results of the investigation into the suspects in the terrorist attack at the Crocus City theater, a suburb of Moscow last weekend.
The report states that investigators have collected “important evidence” showing that the suspects received money from Ukraine in the form of virtual currency. This money was then used to prepare for the attack.
The Investigative Committee said law enforcement officers also identified and detained another suspect believed to be involved in financing terrorism, but did not identify him.
Previously, head of the Russian Federal Security Service (FSB) Aleksandr Bortnikov told reporters that the US, UK and Ukraine could support Moscow terrorist suspects. According to him, Ukraine may have opened the door for the suspects to cross the border into Ukraine after carrying out the attack.
On the evening of March 22, a group of armed people broke into the hall of the Crocus City theater on the outskirts of Moscow. These people opened fire wildly, then set fire to the theater. The attack left at least 143 people dead and more than 300 injured.
Russian security forces arrested 11 suspects, of which four suspects were believed to have directly participated in the attack and were all Tajik nationalities.
Although the self-proclaimed Islamic State (IS) claimed responsibility for the attack, Russia continued to accuse Ukraine and its Western allies of involvement. Kiev and the West have rejected Moscow’s accusations.
In early March, the US and a series of European countries advised their citizens to avoid going to crowded gatherings such as music events due to concerns about the risk of an “imminent” terrorist attack.
US officials also confirmed that they also issued a warning to Russian security agencies. US National Security Council spokesman John Kirby said on March 28 that Washington even sent a written warning to Moscow on the morning of March 7 about the risk of an attack by extremist elements. .
“The US followed normal procedures and through established channels that have been used many times before to send written warnings to Russian security agencies. In fact, the US tried to help Russia stopped this attack and the Kremlin knows it,” Mr. Kirby said.
The comments were made after the New York Times newspaper quoted sources saying that the US did not share with Russian colleagues all data about the planned terrorist attack at Crocus City due to concerns that Moscow could Learn about American intelligence agencies’ informants and their intelligence methods.
According to FSB head Alexandr Bortnikov, information about the possibility of preparing a terrorist attack in Russia transmitted by the US in early March was only of a general nature and Russian special agencies responded.
