Moscow terror attacks: Putin says Russia can't be target of Islamic fundamentalism

Despite the Islamic State Khorasan terror group taking responsibility for the Moscow mass shooting that killed about 144 people, Russian President Vladimir Putin believes that their country can't be the target of Islamic fundamentalists.

In a televised address, Putin on April 4 said the Moscow attack was a ploy to damage Russia's interfaith harmony and unity.

"We have every reason to believe that the main goal of those who ordered the bloody, awful terrorist act in Moscow was to damage our unity," Putin said, according to Reuters news agency.

"There are no other goals visible, there are none, because Russia cannot be the target of terrorist attacks by Islamic fundamentalists. We are a country that demonstrates a unique example of interfaith harmony and unity, of inter-religious and inter-ethnic unity," he added.

The comments come hours after Nikolai Patrushev, who is the head of Russia's National Security Council, claimed that the United States bears some responsibility for the attack as it controls the Kyiv regime.

Speaking at a meeting in Astana, the capital of Kazakhstan, with the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO)—a nine-country alliance focused on security and economic matters that includes China, India, and Iran—Patrushev stated, "They are trying to impose on us that the terrorist act was committed not by the Kyiv regime, but by supporters of radical Islamic ideology, perhaps members of the Afghan branch of IS."

He continued, "However, it is much more important to quickly establish who is the customer and sponsor of this monstrous crime. Its traces lead to the Ukrainian special services. But everyone knows that the Kyiv regime is not independent and is completely controlled by the United States."

Russia has repeatedly claimed that Ukraine was behind the ghastly terror attack without providing evidence. Ukraine has, however, denied involvement and the United States - which warned Russia beforehand of an impending attack by Islamist militants - has said Moscow's version is nonsense.

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