Russia’s internal security chief has accused Britain and the United States of being behind Friday’s terrorist attack on Crocus City Hall.
Alexander Bortnikov, the head of the Federal Security Service, the main successor to the KGB, said investigators had not yet established who ordered the attack but insisted the West and Ukraine were linked to it.
“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,” Mr Bortnikov was cited as saying by Russian news agencies.
“The one who ordered it has not been identified yet. We understand and see those who organised this process, who recruited and set specific tasks,” he said.
However Mr Bortnikov went on to declare: “The USA, Britain and Ukraine are behind the terrorist attack in Crocus City Hall.”
At least 139 people were murdered in the attack on the concert venue outside Moscow on Friday evening. The Islamic State terrorist group has claimed responsibility.