Russia-US Counterterrorism Cooperation ‘Destroyed’: Russian Envoy Invokes 9/11 After Moscow Attack

Anatoly Antonov, the Russian Ambassador in Washington DC, accused the United States of disrupting its counterterrorism cooperation with Moscow, which was a key aspect of their bilateral partnership. Antonov’s statement comes in the wake of one of Russia’s deadliest terrorist attacks, where gunmen attacked a concert hall just outside Moscow, resulting in the deaths of over 100 people. Antonov lamented the breakdown of cooperation, citing Russia’s willingness to assist the US after the 9/11 attacks, Russian state media RT reported.

RT cited an article that quoted Antonov as saying, “I’ve always reminded the Americans that our president [Vladimir Putin] was the first one to extend a hand to the Americans and stated readiness to provide assistance in 2001,” referring to the 9/11 terrorist attacks. He further remarked that “some things [in this cooperation] worked out… and it is all destroyed today through no fault of our own.”

Notably, the US Embassy in Moscow had previously issued warnings about potential terrorist threats in the Russian capital. However, the White House National Security Council spokesperson, John Kirby, clarified that the prior warning was not related to the recent attack.

Meanwhile, Russia’s FSB domestic security service reported detaining 11 suspects, including the four presumed perpetrators, in connection with the attack, according to RT.

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Moscow Attack: Zelenskyy Slams Putin’s Assertion On Attackers Attempting To Flee To Ukraine

Following a devastating terrorist attack on a concert hall near Moscow, tensions escalated between Russia and Ukraine as President Vladimir Putin claimed that the attackers were captured while attempting to flee to Ukraine. The assault, orchestrated by gunmen, resulted in over 130 casualties.

Despite Putin’s claims, Ukraine vehemently denied any involvement, accusing Russian politicians of falsely implicating Ukraine to garner support for Russia’s ongoing conflict in Ukraine, news agency Associated Press reported. 

“They are burning our cities — and they are trying to blame Ukraine,” Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said in a statement on his messaging app channel. “They torture and rape our people — and they blame them. They drove hundreds of thousands of their terrorists here to fight us on our Ukrainian soil, and they don’t care what happens inside their own country,” he remarked, as per AP’s report.

The US Intelligence Community confirmed the involvement of the Islamic State group’s Afghanistan affiliate in the attack, the report stated. Russian media circulated videos purportedly showing the interrogation of the suspects, who were identified as citizens of Tajikistan.

The attack, which occurred just days after Putin’s re-election, prompted Putin to declare a day of mourning and implement heightened security measures across Russia. The incident also raised concerns about the safety of Tajik migrants in Russia, although Putin rejected calls for a crackdown, emphasising the importance of unity in Russia’s multi-ethnic society.