Russian President Vladimir Putin has said that all those responsible for the deadly attack at a concert near Moscow will be "justly and inevitably" punished.
Putin, addressing the nation, said that the attackers tried to escape to Ukraine, reports Reuters.
"Citizens of Russia, I am addressing you regarding the bloody, barbaric terrorist act, whose victims were dozens of peaceful, innocent people - our compatriots, including children, teenagers and women. Doctors are currently fighting for the lives of the victims, those who are in serious condition. I am sure that they will do everything possible and even impossible to save the lives and health of all the wounded. Special thanks to the ambulance and air ambulance teams, special forces, firefighters, rescuers who did everything to save people's lives, get them out of the epicenter of fire and smoke and avoid even greater losses. I cannot ignore the help of ordinary citizens, who in the first minutes after the tragedy did not remain indifferent and, together with doctors and special services, provided first aid and took the victims to hospitals... I express my deep, sincere condolences to all those who lost their loved ones. The whole country and our people mourn with you," Putin said in his address.
He declared March 24 a day of national mourning.
He said that additional anti-terrorist and anti-subversion measures have been introduced in Moscow and Sub-Moscow Region, as well as in all regions of Russia. Now, as he said, the main thing is to prevent "those behind this bloodshed" from committing a new crime.
"Regarding the investigation of this criminal offense and the results of operative-investigative actions, the following can currently be said: All four direct perpetrators of the terrorist attack, all those who shot and killed people, were found and detained. They tried to hide and headed towards Ukraine, where, according to preliminary data, a window was prepared for them to cross the state border from the Ukrainian side. A total of 11 persons were detained. The Federal Security Service of Russia and other law enforcement agencies are working to identify and uncover the entire base of support for terrorists: those who provided them with transportation, planned escape routes from the crime scene, prepared hiding places, stockpiled weapons and ammunition...", Putin said. .
It is already obvious, as he said, "that we are faced not only with a carefully and cynically planned terrorist attack," but also with "an organized mass murder of peaceful, defenseless people."
"The criminals were cold-blooded and deliberately wanted to kill, shoot at our citizens from close range - our children. Like the Nazis who once carried out massacres in the occupied territories, they planned to organize a demonstrative execution, a bloody act of intimidation. All executors, organizers and orderers of this crime will be justly and inevitably punished. Whoever they are, whoever leads them. I repeat, we will identify and punish all those behind the terrorists, who prepared this atrocity, this attack on Russia, on our people," he said Putin.
He said that they know what the threat of terrorism is.
"Here we count on cooperation with all countries that sincerely share our pain and that are ready to really join forces in the fight against the common enemy - international terrorism - in all its manifestations. Terrorists, murderers... who do not and cannot have a nationality, is waiting one unenviable fate - revenge and oblivion, they have no future. Our common duty now, our warriors at the front, all the citizens of the country, is to be together in one formation. I believe it will be so, because no one and nothing can shake our unity and will, our determination and courage, the strength of the united people of Russia. No one will be able to sow the poisonous seeds of discord, panic and discord in our multinational society. Russia has repeatedly gone through the most difficult, sometimes unbearable trials, but it has become even stronger. So it will to be even now", concluded the president of that country.
According to the latest information, at least 115 people were killed in an attack on the audience of a concert in the "Crocus City Hall" near Moscow, which the state authorities are investigating as terrorism.
11 people were arrested, including "four terrorists who were directly involved in the attack", the FSB announced earlier today. Responsibility for the attack last night was claimed by the Islamic State, while Ukraine denies involvement in the attack.
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