Russia: First testimony of terror suspect confirms 'Ukrainian traces'
(Baonghean.vn) - Director of the Russian Federal Security Service (FSB) Alexander Bortnikov said on March 26 that the first testimonies of those involved in the Crocus City terrorist attack confirmed "traces" from Ukraine.
"The main data we received from the detainees confirms this. Therefore, we will analyze further information to clarify whether the presence and participation of the Ukrainian side is real or not. At present, there are reasons to say that Ukraine is involved in this attack," said FSB Director Alexander Bortnikov.
Mr Bortnikov stressed that the suspects could not have prepared such a terrorist attack on their own, and "they had help".
According to the FSB Director, the identity of the "customers" of the IS gunmen is still unknown, but the FSB knows who organized the attack and recruited the perpetrators. Mr. Bortnikov said that the terrorist attack was beneficial to Western and Ukrainian intelligence agencies in order to shake up the situation in Russia and sow panic in society.
Earlier, the FSB said its security forces had detained four suspects - citizens of Tajikistan, in the Bryansk region, near the Ukrainian border. These suspects are believed to be trying to contact Ukrainian contacts to flee across the border.
Russia accused Ukraine of involvement in the attack. However, Ukraine and its Western allies quickly denied it. The US and European countries said that the sole culprit in this attack was IS.
Russian Ambassador to the United States Anatoly Antonov said on March 26 that the West is trying to confirm that IS was behind the attack on the Crocus City theater without waiting for the conclusion of the investigation. The Russian diplomat stressed that this detail alone is enough to show that Russia needs to pay special attention and investigate thoroughly.
