Russia Probes 'Ukraine, US Ties' To Terror Attack As Putin Says Gunmen Did It "For Money"

Russia is continuing to make arrests of alleged conspirators involved in the March 22 terror attack on Crocus City Hall in a Moscow suburb which left at least 140 dead and hundreds injured and wounded.

In addition to the four gunmen who were quickly detained, dozens of other alleged plotters have been rounded up amid an ongoing investigation. The Kremlin says it is probing Ukrainian and potential US links to the deadly attack.

Moscow previously announced "substantial evidence" of the attackers' financial links to Ukraine involving cryptocurrency transfers. President Putin has acknowledged that 'Islamic extremists' were behind it, yet said some other entity or even state was likely directing them.

In fresh statements translated to English in Russian state media, Putin said of the terrorists, "They’re doing anything for money, not guided by any religious or political considerations, only financial ones." He added that "any information can be easily bought and sold" in such a market. He vowed "We will definitely get them" – in apparent reference to those who ultimately masterminded the plot.

Washington has vehemently rejected any accusations against either Ukraine or the US or Western governments. Instead, it says the Biden White House tried to warn Russian authorities.

However, on Tuesday Russia’s spy chief, FSB head Sergei Naryshkin stated that US warnings were too broad and ambiguous. There wasn't enough info to prevent any attack, he said.

"The Federal Security Service [FSB] received some information from the U.S. intelligence services that such a thing was unfortunately possible," Naryshkin told a press briefing. "But as our Russian colleagues said, the information was too general and did not allow us to fully identify those who committed this terrible crime," he was cited by Interfax as saying.

Putin in his Tuesday comments also referenced the "mercenary terrorist attacks" which are "a weapon that is being used against Russia" but that in the end it will be a "double-edged weapon" blowing back on those who use it.

https://www.zerohedge.com/geopolitical/russia-probes-ukraine-us-ties-terror-attack-putin-says-gunmen-did-it-money

US Fumes Over IDF Strike On Aid Workers, But Still Refuses 'Conditions' On Military Transfers

Update(1635ET): In a Tuesday afternoon press briefing, National Security Council Communications Adviser John Kirby expressed that the US is "outraged" by the targeted strike on the World Central Kitchen (WCK) convoy overnight. "We were outraged to learn of an IDF strike that killed a number of civilian humanitarian workers yesterday from the World Central Kitchen, which has been relentlessly working to get food to those who are hungry in Gaza," he said.

Kirby laid out that the US expects Israel to conduct a broad and legitimate investigation: "We hope that those findings will be made public, and that there is appropriate accountability held," he told the briefing. Kirby vowed that the US "will continue to press Israel to do more" in protecting aid workers, and noted over 200 local and international aid workers have been killed since the Gaza war started.

The White House also confirmed that President Biden called WCK founder José Andrés and expressed condolences for the seven staff members killed in the strike. The celebrity chef on Tuesday lashed out at Israel for its "indiscriminate killing" of his employees while they were delivering aid.

"The Israeli government needs to stop this indiscriminate killing. It needs to stop restricting humanitarian aid, stop killing civilians and aid workers, and stop using food as a weapon," Andrés said on X. Israel has called it "unintentional" and "tragic" - with PM Netanyahu earlier in the day expressing regret (see below).

The killing of the aid workers, which included three British nationals, an Australian, a Polish national, an American-Canadian dual citizen and a Palestinian, has been featured throughout the day by US news networks. For example for the early half of Tuesday it was the top frontpage story at CNN.com.

But despite the US expressing "outrage" over the attack, when members of the White House press pool got into Q&A with Kirby, he still passionately emphasized that Israel has not violated international humanitarian norms in Gaza. This was pointed out as several clips circulated of the heated exchange online..

https://www.zerohedge.com/geopolitical/group-foreign-aid-workers-killed-gaza-strike-convoy-netanyahu-expresses-regret

>>20668865

CCP got caught