31 Dec 2019 18:40

Kremlin: Rumors alleging that Magnitogorsk gas blast a year ago was terror attack inspired from abroad

MOSCOW. Dec 31 (Interfax) - The rumors that the natural gas blast in an apartment block in Magnitogorsk a year ago was a terrorist attack have been artificially inspired by other countries, presidential press secretary Dmitry Peskov said.

"I could remind you that the rumors that this was a terrorist attack appeared literally just several minutes after those events. They were hurled onto the Internet quite expertly, including from third-party countries, and this has been determined. By the way, we've talked about this," Peskov told journalists on Tuesday.

The sources and methods which were used to spread these rumors are well-known, he said.

"These rumors were diligently fueled and fomented. These were attempts to stir up a fuss around this tragedy, but this information can't be called anything other than rumors now," Peskov said.

He was asked whether the Kremlin was of the view that the public has been properly informed about the results of the inquiry into the tragedy in order to prevent the circulation of such rumors.

"This is not about informing the public. These rumors have been imposed and inspired artificially, and the spreading of these rumors plays into the hands of those who do this," Peskov said.