Russia’s Bataclan
»»Concerns over risk to Europe after IS atrocity »»Putin slammed for linking Ukraine to massacre of 137
EUROPE should be concerned about the threat of Islamic State following the Moscow terror attack, the British Chancellor warned yesterday.
The atrocity had echoes of the 2015 Bataclan concert hall attack in Paris, when 130 people were killed by IS.
Jeremy Hunt described the loss of civilian life on Friday night as a tragedy after 137 were shot and bombed.
Asked whether European nations should be concerned by the threat of IS, Mr Hunt said: “Absolutely.”
He praised intelligence for foiling terrorist threats in recent years but added: “We have to remain vigilant. If it is Islamic State... they’re prepared to murder in the most horrific way.”
Mr Hunt condemned the Kremlin after it appeared to link Ukraine, which Russia invaded two years ago, to the attack. He told Sky News “They are creating a smokescreen of propaganda to defend an utterly evil invasion.”
It came as yesterday was declared a day of mourning in Russia for those killed at Crocus City Hall in Moscow.
President Vladimir Putin, addressed the nation on TV and attended a vigil. Four gunmen suspected of carrying out the attack appeared at a Moscow district court yesterday to set out pretrial restrictions.
Seven others are being quizzed over helping the killers.
Former beauty queen Ekaterina Novoselova, 42, Pavel Okishev, 34, and his wife photographer Irina Okisheva, 33, are among those listed as killed.
Yesterday Dubai’s 163-storey Burj Khalifa skyscraper was lit up in the colours of Russia’s flag as a tribute, said Russian state news agency TASS. Putin has suggested attackers were trying to escape to Ukraine. Kyiv has denied any involvement.
US National Security Council’s Adrienne Watson said: “ISIS bears sole responsibility. There was no Ukrainian involvement.”
She added the US shared details with Russia about a planned attack in Moscow, which Putin said were part of a bid to destabilise Russia.
They are trying to defend an utterly evil invasion JEREMY HUNT ON KREMLIN’S KYIV CLAIMS