Armed police respond after reports of an explosion at Manchester Arena during an Ariana Grande concert in Manchester, England, May 22, 2017. Peter Byrne / PA via AP

By The Moscow Times

One of Russia’s top politicians has called the Manchester terror attack a “lesson” to British special forces for refusing to cooperate with their Russian counterparts.

Viktor Ozerov, Chairman of the Defense Committee for Russia’s Federation Council, said that Russian intelligence agencies would aid any investigation into the attack.

“Unfortunately, what happened in Manchester was a lesson to the British intelligence services that without the help of other countries, their work will fail,” Ozerov told Russia’s RIA Novosti news agency.

“[It] is yet another signal that the words of Russian President Vladimir Putin should be heard across the world. He has called time and again for a united front against terrorism, complete with uniform rules and free from double-standards.”

At least 22 people died when an explosion took place in the Manchester Arena in north-west England on Monday night.

Police are treating the incident as a suspected terrorist attack.

Russian President Vladimir Putin “expressed his deep condolences” to British Prime Minister Theresa May on Tuesday, as well as sympathy and support to the victims and their families. He also confirmed Russia’s “readiness to build anti-terrorist cooperation with our British partners, both on a bilateral basis and within the framework of broader international efforts.”

By The Moscow Times