Russian intelligence chief says more than 20 people arrested following deadly concert attack

More than 20 people have been arrested in Russia in connection with the terrorist attack on a concert hall near Moscow in March that killed more than 140 people, the head of the FSB security service said, adding it was the first terrorist attack by Islamic State.

(ISIS) was coordinating the attack.

ISIS has repeatedly claimed responsibility for the March 22 attack, while Russia has repeatedly sought to link Ukraine and the West to the attack. FSB chief Alexander Bortnikov told Rianovosti news agency on Friday that "terrorist preparations, financing, attacks and withdrawal were coordinated through the Internet by members of Khorasan province [ISKP or ISIS-K]." A branch of ISIL active in Afghanistan and Pakistan.

Bortnikov did not deny Ukraine's views in a statement Friday, but he offered no evidence.

"After the attack ended, the terrorists received clear instructions to move towards the Ukrainian border and from there to the other side," he said.

A window was prepared for them.

"The investigation continues, but we can already say with certainty that Ukrainian military intelligence was directly involved in the attack," he said.

Kiev refused the declaration as absurd.

The four attackers shot the masses of the Crocka Stown Hall near Moscow on March 22, and fired on the spot with the most fatal attacks in Russia for 20 years.

Bortnikov also pointed to Ukraine and said the insurgents' preparations, financing, attacks and escape attempts were coordinated by ISKP over the internet, Russian news agencies reported.

"Russian propaganda has not forgotten the story of Crocus," Ukrainian military intelligence spokesman Andrei Yusov said on state television on Thursday. He will continue to try to spread his absurd views on the Ukrainian collusion allegations, which do not stand up to criticism and are completely illogical.”

The suspects in Russia's custody include four suspected militants, all Tajik citizens, whose detention was extended last week until August 22.

Their trial dates have not been set.

The United States warned in early March that a public, private and private Russian warning that an armed group had planned an attack on Moscow's concert hall.

An unnamed US Intelligency reported the media after the murder.

He was specifically planned to attack, as he told Moscow, and was particularly planned by Russia that he had rejected these warnings.

Just three days before the attack, President Vladimir Putin accused Washington of "blackmailing" and trying to "blackmail" Russians.