Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov today declined to answer a question about whether he believed there was a link between the Ukrainian leadership and Friday's attack in which gunmen killed at least 139 people at a concert hall outside Moscow, saying only that the investigation continues, reported Reuters, quoted by BTA.
When asked during a conversation with reporters if there was a direct connection between Ukraine and the attack, Peskov said: "I have nothing to add to what has already been said on the subject.
He said Russian officials' comments about the attack were based on "preliminary information" and that the head of Russia's Investigative Committee yesterday reported to President Vladimir Putin on the progress of the investigation.
Putin earlier said that the attack was carried out by radical Islamists, but also added that the attackers tried to flee to Ukraine after the Crocus City Hall attack.
US officials said they have intelligence indicating that the Afghan branch of the “Islamic State” – “Khorasan”, was responsible for the attack, but Russian authorities have not publicly confirmed the jihadist group's role in the attack, Reuters notes.
Eight suspects, born in the Central Asian former Soviet republics of Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan, remain in custody for their involvement in the attack.