Putin vows justice, blames external forces for Moscow concert hall attack

Putin vows justice for Moscow concert hall attack, saying that the country paid a ‘heavy price’

Russian President Vladimir Putin pledged Tuesday to apprehend the orchestrators of the terrorist assault at the Crocus City Hall in Krasnogorsk, Moscow Oblast, urging heightened security measures at public gatherings across the nation.

The attack, which occurred on March 22, resulted in the loss of at least 144 lives with over 550 individuals sustaining injuries after assailants opened fire during the concert. 

Russian security agencies have detained four suspected gunmen, all of them citizens of Tajikistan and seven other suspects.

Despite the extremist group claiming responsibility and Kyiv’s firm denial, Putin persistently attempted to tie the incident to Ukraine and Western influences.

‘There is no doubt we will reach them’

Putin stressed the significance of identifying “not only the perpetrators of this outrage, but all links in the chain and its beneficiaries,” hinting at potential reprisals. “Those who use this weapon against Russia should realize it’s a double-edged weapon,” he said.

“There is no doubt we will reach them,” Putin underscored.

Addressing senior officials of the Interior Ministry, responsible for overseeing the nation’s police force, Putin emphasized the necessity of scrutinizing and evaluating the actions of all services and commercial entities responsible for securing the Crocus City Hall.

Putin said the authorities are investigating the performance of law enforcement structures and other agencies in the concert hall attack. He urged law enforcement agencies to strengthen security at public gatherings.

“We have paid a very high price, and the situation analysis must be objective and professional,” he said. “It’s important to take ensuring security and order of mass gatherings, sports facilities, transport, trade and recreational centers, schools, hospitals, universities, theaters and so on to a new level. All those facilities must be under constant control.”

Putin warns against divisive tactics; xenophobia, and Islamophobia

The attack has fueled anti-migrant sentiments and drawn calls from Russian hawks to limit migration even though the Russian economy strongly depends on migrant workers, most of them citizens of ex-Soviet nations in Central Asia, including Tajikistan.

Russian media reported that authorities have strengthened controls over migrants in the wake of the attack.

Characterizing the masterminds behind the raid as aiming to “sow discord and panic, strife and hatred in our multiethnic country to break up Russia from within,” Putin warned against allowing such divisive tactics.

“It’s inadmissible to use the tragic event to provoke ethnic tensions, xenophobia, and Islamophobia,” he asserted.

Putin, who has repeatedly accused the U.S. and its allies of trying to destroy Russia, again charged that Moscow’s geopolitical adversaries were aiming to “ruin what is left of historic Russia, to break up its historic core” to win control over the country’s vast resources.

“Some of them are trying to preserve their hegemony in today’s rapidly changing world at our expense,” he said, adding: “Some apparently saw our country as a weak link. They are mistaken.”

Source: Newsroom