24-3-2024 (MOSCOW) A pall of grief and determination hangs over the Russian capital as the nation grapples with the aftermath of a horrific shooting rampage that unfolded at the Crocus City Hall, a cultural hub on the outskirts of Moscow. In a somber address to the nation on Saturday, President Vladimir Putin vowed to track down and punish those responsible for the heinous attack, which left scores dead and injured.
The Russian Investigative Committee has confirmed a staggering death toll of 133 lives lost, while state TV editor Margarita Simonyan had earlier reported a grim figure of 143 fatalities, underscoring the sheer magnitude of this tragedy.
In a televised statement that gripped the nation, Putin revealed that 11 individuals, including the four suspected gunmen, had been apprehended in a swift operation by Russian authorities. “They tried to hide and move towards Ukraine, where, according to preliminary data, a window was prepared for them on the Ukrainian side to cross the state border,” he said, hinting at potential cross-border connections.
The Federal Security Service (FSB) corroborated Putin’s claims, stating that the gunmen had established contacts within Ukrainian territory and were captured near the border as they attempted to flee. The suspects are currently being transferred to Moscow for further interrogation and investigation.
While Putin and the FSB have yet to present concrete evidence of a Ukrainian link, the accusations have been met with vehement denial from Ukrainian officials. Andriy Yusov, a spokesman for Ukrainian military intelligence, categorically dismissed any involvement by Kyiv, asserting, “Ukraine was of course not involved in this terror attack. Ukraine is defending its sovereignty from Russian invaders, liberating its own territory and is fighting with the occupiers’ army and military targets, not civilians.”
Yusov further denounced the FSB’s version of events, labeling it “another lie from the Russian special services.”
In his address, Putin cast the enemy as “international terrorism” and expressed his readiness to collaborate with any state committed to defeating this scourge. “All the perpetrators, organizers, and those who ordered this crime will be justly and inevitably punished. Whoever they are, whoever is guiding them,” he vowed. “We will identify and punish everyone who stands behind the terrorists, who prepared this atrocity, this strike against Russia, against our people.”
Andrei Kartapolov, a senior Russian lawmaker, echoed Putin’s resolute stance, warning that if Ukraine’s involvement is confirmed, Russia must deliver a “worthy, clear and concrete” response on the battlefield.
The harrowing attack unfolded on Friday, with verified footage depicting camouflage-clad gunmen opening fire with automatic weapons at concert-goers inside the Crocus City Hall. Videos captured the chilling moments as patrons rushed for the exits amid a hail of gunfire and screams of terror.
Investigators revealed that some victims died from gunshot wounds, while others perished in a massive fire that engulfed the complex, allegedly ignited by the attackers using petrol canisters they had carried in rucksacks.
Eyewitness accounts and reports paint a haunting picture of the chaos that ensued, with people fleeing in panic and bodies found in various locations, including 28 in a toilet and 14 on a staircase. “Many mothers were found embracing their children,” reported Baza, a news outlet with close ties to Russian security and law enforcement agencies.
The pursuit of the suspects led authorities to the Bryansk region, approximately 340 kilometers southwest of Moscow, where a car chase ensued after the gunmen disobeyed orders to stop. According to Russian lawmaker Alexander Khinshtein, a pistol, a magazine for an assault rifle, and passports from Tajikistan were found in the car, suggesting potential links to the Central Asian nation.
In a chilling display of the investigation’s progress, TV editor Simonyan published a video showing one of the suspects, a young, bearded man, being interrogated aggressively by the roadside. Speaking in heavily accented Russian, the man revealed that he had flown from Turkey on March 4 and had received instructions from unknown individuals via the Telegram messaging app to carry out the attack in exchange for money.
The video captured the suspect’s trembling form, initially lying on his stomach with his hands bound behind his back, his chin resting on the boot of a camouflaged figure. Later, he was hauled up onto his knees, his face etched with fear and compliance.
Another suspect, bearing cuts and bruises to his face, was shown being questioned through an interpreter while sitting on a bench, his hands and feet bound.
As the Kremlin grapples with the fallout, Putin has held conversations with the leaders of Belarus, Uzbekistan, and Kazakhstan, affirming a collective willingness to collaborate in the fight against terrorism.
Long lines of concerned citizens formed in Moscow on Saturday, eager to donate blood for the more than 120 individuals reported to have been wounded in the attack.
While the Islamic State militant group has claimed responsibility for the rampage, describing it as an attack on the outskirts of Moscow that “killed and wounded hundreds and caused great destruction,” the United States has warned Moscow of the possibility of such an attack in recent weeks.
Experts warn that the Islamic State’s affiliate in Afghanistan, known as ISIS-Khorasan or ISIS-K, has been fixated on Russia for the past two years, frequently criticizing Putin in its propaganda. The broader Islamic State group has claimed responsibility for numerous deadly attacks across the Middle East, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Iran, Europe, the Philippines, and Sri Lanka.
