MOSCOW, March  28, 2024 (BSS/AFP) - Russia said Thursday it had evidence 
the perpetrators of last week's massacre at a concert hall outside Moscow were 
linked to "Ukrainian nationalists", a claim that the United States called 
nonsense.

       President Vladimir Putin and his security services continue to allege Kyiv 
and the West were involved somehow in last Friday's attack, despite an Islamic 
State affiliate having claimed responsibility.

       Putin said Saturday that 11 people had been detained after gunmen stormed 
the Crocus City Hall, setting the building alight and killing at least 143 
people.

       "As a result of work with the detained terrorists, examination of the 
technical devices seized from them and analysis of information on financial 
transactions, evidence of their links with Ukrainian nationalists has been 
obtained," Russia's Investigative Committee said on Thursday.

       It alleged the suspects had received "significant amounts of money and 
cryptocurrency from Ukraine" and said another man "involved in financing the 
terrorists" had been identified and detained.

       "Investigators will ask the court to remand him in custody," it said.
       Ukraine and its Western allies have branded as absurd accusations they were 
involved.

       "My uncle used to say ... that the best manure salesmen often carry their 
samples in their mouths," US National Security Council spokesman John Kirby 
told reporters Thursday.

       "Russian officials seem to be pretty good manure salesmen," Kirby said, 
denouncing what he called Russia's "nonsense propaganda."

       
       - 'Completely inappropriate' -
    
       
       The four suspected assailants -- with bruises and cuts on their swollen 
faces -- were dragged into a Moscow courtroom Sunday, all of whom were from 
Tajikistan, Russian media reported.

       Russia's FSB security service said it arrested the gunmen while they were 
trying to flee to Ukraine, a claim seemingly disputed by Belarusian strongman 
Alexander Lukashenko, who said they were headed for his country first.

       Islamic State jihadists have said several times since Friday that they were 
responsible, and IS-affiliated media channels have published graphic videos of 
the gunmen inside the venue.

       Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov gave no indication on Thursday that Putin 
planned to visit the family members of those killed.

       The Russian leader was seen lighting a candle for the victims at a Moscow 
church last week, but has not visited the scene of the massacre or publicly met 
with any victims.

       "If any contacts are necessary, we will inform you accordingly," Peskov 
said, when asked if Putin planned to meet family members of the dead.

       He also said Putin did not plan to visit Crocus City Hall, where rescuers 
had for the past week been searching the rubble for bodies.

       "In these days it would be completely inappropriate to carry out any 
fact-finding trips, because this would simply interfere with the work," he said.