A devastating terror attack was launched inside Moscow on Friday, killing over 143 and injuring many more. Four suspects were detained in the Bryansk Region near the border with Ukraine.
The Aftermath: At least 145 people were sent to Russian hospitals after a terrorist attack during a concert at Crocus City Hall. Reports indicate the attack was carried out by multiple shooters armed with automatic weapons and flammable liquids, resulting in a large part of the building catching fire.
- The Moscow Region’s health ministry said more than 30 regional ambulance crews and more than 20 Moscow ambulance crews have been sent to Crocus City Hall.
- The fire covers an area of 12,900 square meters. 320 people and over 130 units of equipment are involved in extinguishing the fire.
The Conversation: In the wake of the savage attack, Deputy Chairman of the Security Council of the Russian Federation, Dmitry Medvedev, vowed “death for death” if the shooters were confirmed to have ties to the Ukrainian government.
- My sincere condolences to the families of those killed in the attack, and strength to all the loved ones of the victims.
- Terrorists only understand retribution. No courts or investigations will help if force is not met with force, and deaths are not met with the total execution of terrorists and repressions against their families. That is the world’s experience.
- Should it be established that these are terrorists of the Kiev regime, it is impossible to act otherwise with them and their ideological inspirers. All of them must be found and mercilessly destroyed as terrorists. Including the officials of the state that committed such an atrocity. Death for death.
In the West: The United States claimed to have advanced knowledge of an imminent attack by what it called “extremists” and shared intelligence with Russian officials in adherence to mutual security policies.
- “Earlier this month, the US Government had information about a planned terrorist attack in Moscow – potentially targeting large gatherings, to include concerts – which prompted the State Department to issue a public advisory to Americans in Russia,” Sputnik reported citing the official on Telegram.
- “The US Government also shared this information with Russian authorities in accordance with its longstanding ‘duty to warn’ policy,” the spokesperson said on Friday.
Why this Matters: The Muslim terror organization ISIS-K would later claim responsibility for the violence, although this assertion would be questioned by Russian officials. All four perpetrators would be caught attempting to flee into Ukraine.
One suspect admitted during video interrogation to shooting people at Crocus City Hall. He also claims he was offered approximately $5,400 to shoot “anyone.” The crime was allegedly organized on the social media app Telegram with an unknown person who later provided weapons.
Context: ISIS-K, the alleged perpetrators of the attack, is widely believed to be a byproduct of Western meddling. The group quickly grew to prominence after the United States withdrew from Afghanistan.
The group was also responsible for an early January bombing of General Suleimani’s tomb, massacring 84 people in Kerman, Iran. At the time, some speculated that the bombing had “Zionist fingerprints” all over it.
- The hands of terrorism reach the hometown of Martyr Haj Qasem Soleimani. Condolences to our Iranian friends for the martyrdom…during the commemoration of Martyr Lt. Gen. Qassem Soleimani’s anniversary. This (attack) has the fingerprints of Zionists all over it.”