Vice President Kamala Harris has rejected Russian President Vladimir Putin’s attempt to hold Ukraine responsible for the attack on a concert hall on the outskirts of Moscow that killed more than 130 people.
In an interview with ABC’s Rachel Scott, Harris reiterated that ISIS was responsible for the deadly shooting at Crocus City Concert Hall in the Moscow suburb of Krasnogorsk. Russia has observed a day of national mourning on Sunday, and the death toll is expected to rise further.
“President Vladimir Putin is already trying to link this to Ukraine and say Ukraine is responsible. Does the United States have any evidence to back that up?” Scott said Sunday on ABC’s “This Week.” He said this in an interview.
“No. First of all, let me say that what happened was an act of terrorism and the number of people killed so far is clearly a tragedy and we all send our condolences to those families. “It should be expressed,” Harris responded. “No, there is no evidence at all. And in fact, what we know for a fact is that ISIS is apparently responsible for what actually happened.”
US warning to Americans about impending attack on Moscow turns out to be prophetic two weeks later
Vice President Kamala Harris has rejected Russian President Vladimir Putin’s suggestion that Ukraine may be behind the Moscow concert shooting. (Getty Images)
President Putin called the attack a “bloody, barbaric act of terrorism” in an evening speech, and Russian authorities said Saturday that four suspects had tried to flee into Ukraine through a “window” prepared on the Ukrainian side of the border. He said he had been arrested.
Russian media broadcast a video that appeared to show the suspect’s detention and interrogation, in which he was approached through a messaging app by an assistant to an unidentified Islamic preacher and offered to pay money to participate in the raid. This included a suspect who told the cameras that he had been paid.
A Federal Security Service (FSB) officer is parked outside the scene of a shooting at a concert hall in Krasnogorsk, a Moscow suburb, on March 23, 2024. (Uga Maltseva/AFP via Getty Images)
Kiev strongly denies involvement, and the Islamic State’s Afghan branch claimed responsibility.
Hero teen saves over 100 people in Moscow terrorist attack: video
Although President Putin did not mention ISIS in his address to the nation, Kiev’s president said he and other Russian politicians are trying to drum up enthusiasm for Russia’s fight in Ukraine, which recently entered its third year. He accused the country of falsely linking Ukraine to the attack. U.S. intelligence officials said they confirmed the ISIS-affiliated group’s claims.
“ISIS was solely responsible for this attack. Ukraine was not involved in any way,” National Security Council spokesman Adrian Watson said in a statement.
On March 24, 2024, Russian law enforcement officers raid the area outside Moscow’s Basmany District Court amid reports that some of the suspects in the Crocus City Hall attack may face trial. It is secured. (Tatiana Makeeva/AFP via Getty Images)
Two weeks before Friday’s attack on a Russian concert hall, the US embassy warned Americans to “avoid large gatherings,” including concerts, citing “imminent plans” for an attack by “extremists.” uttered.
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“The embassy is monitoring reports that extremists have imminent plans to target large gatherings, including a concert in Moscow. U.S. citizens are advised to refrain from large gatherings for the next 48 hours. should be advised to avoid,” the March 7 warning said.
Fox News’ Brie Stimson and The Associated Press contributed to this report.
