Vladimir Putin in an address to the nation in the aftermath of the attack on the Crocus City Hall in Moscow confirmed that the four terrorists responsible had been arrested . “There are indications that they were trying to enter Ukraine,” the Russian president said, calling the attack “a barbaric and bloody act, a carefully prepared mass murder.” All those arrested are foreigners.
“We will identify those who are behind this terrorist act and will pay for it,” Putin added, comparing those responsible for the massacre to “Nazis”. Like the latter, in fact, "they killed Russian citizens indiscriminately."
The death toll has risen to 143 according to the Russian press, there are also some children. Eleven people were arrested, including the four alleged perpetrators who are now detained in the Bryansk region, not far from the border with Ukraine where according to the police they intended to flee .
ISIS claimed responsibility for the attack on its Telegram channel: "Militias of the Islamic State - we read in the message - attacked a large gathering (...) on the outskirts of Moscow" and then "withdrew safely to their basics". “The attack comes in the context of a furious war between the Islamic State and the countries fighting Islam,” reported the news agency of the militant group Amaq, publishing photos of the four “fighters”.
A commando armed with Kalashnikovs went into action in the theater shortly before the concert of the Picnic group. The terrorists also threw explosives which started a fire, leaving dozens of people trapped in the room.
Moscow immediately accused Ukraine, which denies any involvement. And despite ISIS's claim, according to the Russian FSB security services, those arrested had "relevant contacts" with Kiev . And they were trying to escape right into Ukraine.
In fact, Putin explained in his live TV speech, "from the first results of the investigation it emerged that a window had been created on the Ukrainian side of the border to allow the four terrorists to cross the border" . The Russian president, therefore, despite the claim, completely ignores ISIS in his speech and calls Ukraine into question.
Putin has called a day of national mourning for tomorrow, March 24, called for the unity of countries against the common enemy, terrorism, and announced "further anti-terrorism and anti-sabotage measures in Moscow and the region". Then he launched an appeal to the population: " No one can shake our unity, we are faced with a prepared massacre of our people ."
(Unioneonline/L)