Russia claims to have found evidence of a link between Crocus terrorists and Ukraine

“The results of the preliminary investigation fully confirm the planned nature of the terrorist act, its careful preparation and financial support from its organizers. As a result of interrogating the arrested terrorists, studying the seized technical equipment and analyzing information on financial transactions, evidence of their connections with Ukrainian nationalists was obtained,” the statement said.

On the same day, John Kirby, the White House National Security Council's coordinator for strategic communications, said that the Washington administration had provided Moscow with clear and detailed information about the threat of terrorist attacks before the tragedy in Krasnogorsk. According to Kirby, "in fact, the United States tried to help prevent this terrorist attack." He argued: "Before the March 22 attack, the United States provided clear and detailed information to the Russian government about the terrorist threat to large gatherings and concerts in Moscow."

“At 11:15 a.m. on March 7, Moscow time (3:15 p.m. Hanoi time), in accordance with normal procedures and through established channels used many times by the US Government, we sent a written warning to Russian security agencies,” Mr. Kirby said at a special press conference. However, he did not specify whether the information the US side conveyed was detailed or not.

Mr. Kirby also recalled that the following day the United States posted a warning on its embassy website in Russia about the dangers of attending crowded events in Moscow, including concerts.

“The US government will continue to remain vigilant and alert other governments, regardless of our relationship with them, if we have information about a terrorist threat,” Kirby said, stressing that the US “takes its obligation to carry out that warning very seriously.” Mr. Kirby said that Washington believes “it is very clear that IS is fully responsible for this attack.”