Russia links concert shooting to ‘Ukrainian nationalists’

MOSCOW: Russian investigators said on Thursday they had found proof that gunmen who killed more than 140 people at a concert last week were linked to “Ukrainian nationalists”, an assertion immediately dismissed by the United States as baseless propaganda.

Russia has said from the outset that it believes Ukraine was linked to the attack, even though Kyiv has denied it and the militant group Islamic State has claimed responsibility.

In a statement, Russia’s Investigative Committee said for the first time that it had uncovered proof of a Ukrainian connection. While it described the nature of the alleged evidence, it did not publish it.

“As a result of working with detained terrorists, studying the technical devices seized from them, and analysing information about financial transactions, evidence was obtained of their connection with Ukrainian nationalists,” it said.

It said there was “confirmed data” that the attackers had received significant amounts of cash and cryptocurrency from Ukraine for attacks. Another suspect involved in “the terrorists’ financing scheme” had been detained, the committee said.