Putin vows vengeance on Moscow attackers as 133 dead
US had warned of impending attack — but Putin brushed off alert as Western ‘attempt to destabilise’ Russia
Russia yesterday said it had arrested all four gunmen suspected of carrying out a shooting massacre at a concert hall near Moscow, and Vladimir Putin pledged to track down and punish those behind the attack.
Militant Islamist group Islamic State claimed responsibility for Friday’s rampage, but there were indications that Russia was pursuing a Ukrainian link — despite emphatic denials from Ukrainian officials that Kyiv had anything to do with it.
Russia’s state Investigative Committee said 133 people had been killed. State TV, without citing a source, had earlier given a toll of 143.
In a televised address, Putin said 11 people had been detained, including the four gunmen.
“They tried to hide and moved towards Ukraine, where, according to preliminary data, a window was prepared for them on the Ukrainian side to cross the state border,” he said.
The FSB security service said the gunmen had contacts in Ukraine and were captured near the border. It said they were being transferred to Moscow.
Neither Putin nor the FSB publicly presented any proof of a link with Ukraine.
Ukrainian military intelligence spokesman Andriy Yusov told Reuters: “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.”
Two weeks ago, the US embassy in Moscow warned of a potential terror attack, advising US citizens to avoid large gatherings, including concerts — but earlier last week Vladimir Putin dismissed the warning as “outright blackmail” intended to “intimidate and destabilise” Russian society.
US officials said their alert had been partially based on intelligence indicating the Islamic State Khorasan (ISIS-K) terror group was active inside Russia.
Hours before the US embassy warning, the FSB said it had foiled an attack on a Moscow synagogue by ISIS-K.
Islamic State yesterday said its fighters attacked on the outskirts of Moscow, “killing and wounding hundreds and causing great destruction to the place before they withdrew to their bases safely”. The statement gave no further detail.
Yesterday, Islamic State (IS) released a photo of what it said were the four attackers. IS has a strong motivation to strike Russia, which intervened against it in Syria’s civil war in 2015, and analysts said the IS claim seemed plausible, as it fit the pattern of past attacks.
Western nations, including the US, whose ties with Moscow have been fraught since its invasion of Ukraine, condemned the attack and expressed sympathy for the Russian people affected. Arab powers and many former Soviet republics also expressed shock and sent their condolences
Verified footage showed camouflage-clad gunmen opening fire with automatic weapons in the Crocus City Hall near Moscow. Video showed people taking their seats, then rushing for the exits as repeated gunfire echoed above screams.
Investigators said some died from gunshot wounds and others in a huge fire that broke out. Reports said the gunmen had lit the blaze using petrol from canisters they carried in rucksacks. People fled in panic, but many died in the blaze or from smoke inhalation. One news outlet said 28 bodies were found in a toilet and 14 on a staircase.
“Many mothers were found embracing their children,” it said.
The attackers had fled in a Renault vehicle that was spotted by police in Bryansk, about 340km southwest of Moscow. A car chase ensued after they disobeyed orders to stop.
A pistol, a magazine for an assault rifle, and passports from Tajikistan were found in the car. Tajikistan is a mainly Muslim state in central Asia which used be part of the Soviet Union.
© Reuters