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Russia offers help to investigate Boston attack
April 16, 2013, 10:23 am

Emergency crews arrive at the scene of the blasts in Boston [AP]

Emergency crews arrive at the scene of the blasts in Boston [AP]

Russian President Vladimir Putin has sent a message of condolence to US President Barack Obama after two explosions at the Boston Marathon.

He strongly condemned the explosions and offered assistance in the investigation into what he called a “barbaric crime”.

Putin said that only joint and coordinated actions against terrorists will yield results.

“Putin strongly condemned this barbarous crime and expressed his conviction that the fight against terrorism requires the active coordination of efforts by the global community,” the official statement said.

Two powerful explosions near the finish line of the Boston Marathon killed three and injured 144 yesterday.

Mikhail Margelov, chairman of Russia’s Foreign Affairs Committee said the explosions in Boston show Russia and US have a “common and omnipresent enemy.”

The blasts are a signal for Russia to tighten security measures as next year the country will be hosting Sochi 2014 Olympics, as well as many other important international events.

As Margelov added, Russia and US should “get united instead of creating dividing lists.”

Investigations are still underway to determine who was behind the explosions, as no organisation has taken responsibility so far.

Muscovites brought flowers to the US Embassy in Moscow to express their condolences.

The president’s offering of assistance in investigating the explosions is largely seen as a meltdown in the relations between Russia and the US that were strained after the Magnitsky list and the adoptions ban.

Daria Chernyshova