At the same time as Islamic State says that it was behind the Moscow bloodbath, Putin cynically factors the finger at Kyiv

Russian chief Vladimir Putin final night time accused Ukraine of helping the terrorists behind an assault on a Moscow theatre that left no less than 133 lifeless – regardless of Islamic State claiming duty for the atrocity.

4 gunmen armed with automated weapons and bombs launched a killing spree contained in the Crocus Metropolis Corridor theatre on Friday night time. It’s the worst terrorist assault in Russia for 20 years.

The bloodbath got here two weeks after the US warned of an imminent assault within the Russian capital by extremists.

Inside hours, Islamic State had issued a press release saying that it was behind the assaults and posted an image of the gunmen on its social media channel. However in an indignant nationwide handle yesterday, Putin pointed the finger at Ukraine.

The Russian chief claimed that the terrorists had fled the scene in a white Renault and travelled 248 miles south to the Bryansk area, the place they have been about to cross the border into Ukraine.

He stated: ‘They tried to cover and moved in direction of Ukraine, the place, based on preliminary knowledge, a window was ready for them on the Ukrainian facet to cross the state border.’

Eleven folks had been arrested, he added, together with the 4 terrorists: ‘The Russian Federal Safety Service and different regulation enforcement companies are working to establish and uncover all the auxiliary base of the terrorists.

‘Those that supplied them with transport, plotted methods of getting away from the scene of the crime, ready caches and hiding locations with weapons and ammunition.’

However a spokesman for Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky angrily denied any involvement within the assaults, saying: ‘Ukraine has by no means resorted to the usage of terrorist strategies. Every little thing on this conflict will probably be determined solely on the battlefield.’

Final night time, US officers stated that the declare of duty by Islamic State was credible, including that Islamic State Khorasan Province, which is predicated in Afghanistan, could have carried out the assault.

The US had intelligence of an imminent assault by ‘extremists’ earlier this month, and issued a warning to its residents in Moscow to keep away from giant public gatherings.

The Crocus Metropolis Corridor theatre, which lies 12 miles from the Kremlin within the north-west of town, has a capability of 6,200.

Friday night time’s live performance – by Piknik, a Soviet-era rock band – was stated to be bought out.

The bloodbath started at 7.40pm native time as concert-goers have been submitting into the auditorium.

Witnesses stated no less than 4 gunmen, in camouflage and fight vests with dozens of spare magazines, leapt out of a white Renault minivan and headed calmly in direction of the metallic detectors on the theatre’s entrance. There they shot by way of the glass doorways and home windows, killing dozens.

The terrorists have been then captured on grainy mobile-phone footage, capturing as they walked by way of the live performance corridor’s lobby.

‘They acted like skilled fighters,’ one witness stated. ‘They killed the guards and other people standing on the door. Then they blocked the primary entrance.’

Graphic footage confirmed the gunmen firing on these trapped in an entrance for a full minute at point-blank vary.

After that, the attackers lobbed an explosive system into the group, beginning a hearth which finally burnt by way of the venue’s roof.

One girl, in hospital being handled for burns to her arms and physique, instructed Russian TV: ‘I fell to the ground and pretended to die. The woman subsequent to me was killed.’

Yulia Khvatkova, who noticed the carnage on the entrance, stated: ‘I used to be wounded within the shoulder, my boyfriend was hit within the legs and arms. A girl fell proper subsequent to me with a bullet by way of her temple.

‘A cheerful girl was promoting tickets on the entrance. Once we ran away I noticed her mendacity there with these tickets with a bullet in her head.’

The musicians have been nonetheless of their dressing room when gunshots first rang out. At first, the viewers contained in the auditorium thought it was a part of the build-up to the present. Then, when it turned clear an assault was below method, loudspeakers blared out that the live performance was being cancelled for ‘technical causes’. There was panic as trapped concert-goers tried to flee.

Yesterday, emergency staff could possibly be seen looking out by way of the wreckage of the theatre, on the lookout for our bodies and survivors. They reportedly discovered 28 our bodies in a bathroom and 14 on an evacuation staircase.

Victims have been discovered mendacity lifeless in household teams, some embracing their family members. Stories stated a number of kids have been among the many victims. Round 140 have been injured, with half nonetheless in hospital.

The gunmen have been captured six hours later by Chechen fighters loyal to Putin within the Bryansk area. All 4 males detained are believed to be Muslims from Tajikistan, which borders Afghanistan.

In footage launched on social media, one of many captured terrorists stated he had been ordered to assault the theatre for one million roubles (£8,599).

It’s the worst terrorist assault in Russia because the 2004 Beslan college bloodbath, the place 334 victims have been killed, half of whom have been kids.

In 2002, a siege of the Dubrovka Theatre in Moscow by Chechen terrorists left 132 hostages lifeless.