The UK should “absolutely” be concerned about the threat of the Islamic State after the Moscow terror attack, it was claimed today.
Chancellor Jeremy Hunt said European countries must “remain vigilant” after 137 were killed in an assault that suggests the jihadist group still maintains the capacity for major atrocities.
Hunt described the loss of civilian life as a “tragedy” but condemned the Kremlin after it appeared to seek to link Ukraine, which Russia invaded two years ago, to the attack.
“We have very little confidence in anything the Russian government says. We know that they are creating a smokescreen of propaganda to defend an utterly evil invasion of Ukraine,” he told Sky News’ Sunday Morning with Trevor Phillips. It came as today was declared a day of mourning in Russia for those killed.
President Vladimir Putin made the declaration during a televised address to Russians in which he discussed the nation’s response to the attack. Meanwhile, suspects in the Crocus City Hall shooting were brought to the Russian Investigation Committee’s headquarters in Moscow.
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Law enforcement officers working inside the Crocus City Hall, a day after a gun attack in Krasnogorsk (RUSSIAN INVESTIGATIVE COMMITTEE/)Footage released by the committee shows Russian authorities dressed in camouflage and balaclavas grabbing and pushing at least three men, who appear to be blindfolded, into the building.
As the video continues, two of the men could be seen with their heads pressed against a wall and their hands cuffed behind their backs. Putin himself attending a vigil for those killed in the attack.
Without giving his location, the video showed the Russian president placing a candle below the figure of Jesus Christ, before crossing himself several times.
“The president paid tribute to those killed in the terrorist attack at Crocus City Hall,” wrote the Kremlin - the only information accompanying the video, which did not have audio.
Rescuers working inside the Crocus City Hall (RUSSIAN INVESTIGATIVE COMMITTEE/)Today, Dubai’s 163-floor Burj Khalifa skyscraper was lit up in the colours of Russia’s flag for “several minutes” to acknowledge the country’s loss, according to Russian state news agency TASS.
The attack had echoes of the 2015 Bataclan terror attack in Paris, where gunmen and suicide bombers hit a concert hall, a major stadium, restaurants and bars, almost simultaneously - and left 130 people dead and hundreds wounded.
In the initial hours after Friday’s attack, Putin suggested attackers were trying to escape in the direction of Ukraine.
He also accused Ukraine of preparing a “window” to help suspects escape. Ukraine has staunchly denied any involvement. Russian officials say all four suspects believed to be behind the concert shooting are in custody.
ISIS bears sole responsibility for this attack. There was no Ukrainian involvement whatsoever,” America’s National Security Council spokesperson Adrienne Watson said in a statement. Watson noted that the United States “shared information with Russia about a planned terrorist attack in Moscow.”
People mourn at the Crocus City Hall concert venue following a terrorist attack (MAXIM SHIPENKOV/EPA-EFE/REX/Shutterstock)The security council said the warning was made “in accordance with its longstanding ‘duty to warn’ policy.” Days before the attacks, Putin said the West’s warnings of any potential attacks in Russia were part of an “attempt to intimidate, destabilize our country.”
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Mr Hunt said today that it was a tragedy innocent people had lost their lives but that “I take what the Russian government says with an enormous pinch of salt.”
Asked whether other European nations, including Britain, should be concerned by the threat of IS, Mr Hunt said: “Absolutely. We are very lucky in this country that we have incredibly impressive intelligence agencies, who have been successful in stopping, in foiling a lot of terrorist threats over recent years.
“But we have to remain vigilant. And if it is Islamic State, they are utterly indiscriminate in what they do. They’re prepared to murder in the most horrific way.
“And so that’s why I think our hearts go out to everyone who’s affected by this, wherever they are in the world, and, yes, we have to make sure that we’re on our guard.”
Labour Party chairwoman Anneliese Dodds agreed with the Chancellor, saying: “Wherever terrorism rears its ugly head, we have to utterly condemn it and offer our condolences to all of those impacted. It’s really important that this is investigated properly and that those who genuinely were responsible are actually brought to book.”
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