Russian President Vladimir Putin on Saturday addressed the nation about the Crocus City Hall shooting, denouncing it as a “bloody and barbaric” terrorist attack and vowing to punish all involved. At least 115 people have been killed and over 120 wounded in Friday evening's massacre.
In his video address, the president declared a national day of mourning on Sunday, March 24, to commemorate the victims of the attack.
Putin expressed his gratitude to all first responders, to law enforcement, and to ordinary citizens, too, who helped the victims of the attack. At the same time, the president stressed another effort is underway, focused on the prevention of any further attacks.
”In Moscow and Moscow Region, in all regions of the country, additional anti-terrorism and anti-saboteur measures have been introduced,” he announced, adding: “The main thing now is to prevent those who are behind this bloodbath from committing a new crime.”
Vowing to punish all conspirators behind Friday night’s attack, Putin noted that, so far, 11 suspects, including four perpetrators who directly participated in the shooting spree, have been detained. The attackers were caught fleeing “towards Ukraine, where, according to preliminary data, a window to cross the border was prepared on the Ukrainian side,” he added.
“All perpetrators, organizers and masterminds behind this crime will get just and inevitable punishment. Whoever they are, whoever guides them. I repeat: we will identify and punish everyone who stands behind the terrorists, who prepared this atrocity, this attack on Russia, on our people,” the president stated.
Moscow attack terrorists planned to flee to Ukraine – FSB
The terrorists who attacked Crocus City Hall in Moscow Region on Friday evening planned to flee to Ukraine, the FSB security service said in a statement on Saturday.
Four assailants were apprehended in Bryansk Region near the border, and are being transported to Moscow. According to the FSB, the perpetrators of the terrorist attack – which has left at least 115 people dead – had contacts on Ukrainian soil.
“After committing the crime, the perpetrators attempted to flee, driving in a car in the direction of the Russia-Ukraine border,” the authorities stated. However, “all four [suspected] terrorists” were detained within several hours.
Seven other people have been apprehended following the mass shooting, the security service said. The attack was meticulously planned, with a cache of weapons amassed beforehand, the statement added.
The investigation is ongoing, with the security service working to determine all circumstances surrounding the case.
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