Putin accuses Ukraine of involvement in Moscow concert attack; Kyiv denies allegations
Moscow/ Kyiv: Russian President Vladimir Putin on Saturday claimed that Ukraine played a role in the fatal Moscow concert attack, which resulted in the deaths of at least 143 people, media reports said.
He alleged that the terrorists responsible for the gunfire attempted to flee towards Kyiv.
Putin further stated that certain people on the Ukrainian side had allegedly prepared to help them cross the border from Russia.
However, Ukraine immediately refuted the allegations made by the Russian leader.
According to reports in the media, in his televised address to the nation, Putin said, "I am speaking to you today in connection with the bloody, barbaric terrorist attack, the victims of which were dozens of innocent, peaceful people... I declare March 24 a day of national mourning.
"All the perpetrators, organisers and those who ordered this crime will be justly and inevitably punished. Whoever they are, whoever is guiding them," Putin said, adding "We will identify and punish everyone who stands behind the terrorists, who prepared this atrocity, this strike against Russia, against our people".
Immediately after Putin's address, Ukraine dismissed the allegations, saying that it had no involvement in Friday's shooting attack near Moscow.
At least 143 people were killed and several others were injured following an assault by a group of assailants who opened fire in a suburban Moscow concert hall on Friday night.
This incident is said to be the deadliest attack in Russia in the past 20 years.
Police have arrested 11 suspects - including all four gunmen directly involved in carrying out the deadly attack - following a "car chase" in Russia's Bryansk region, according to media reports.
The Islamic State group’s Afghanistan branch claimed responsibility for Friday’s attack in a statement posted on affiliated channels on social media.
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