Even as Islamic State says that it was behind the Moscow massacre, Putin cynically points the finger at Kyiv
Russian leader Vladimir Putin last night accused Ukraine of aiding terrorists in an attack on a Moscow theater that left at least 133 dead – despite Islamic State claiming responsibility for the atrocity.
Four gunmen, armed with automatic weapons and bombs, launched a killing spree at the Crocus City Hall theater on Friday evening. It is the worst terrorist attack in Russia in twenty years.
The massacre came two weeks after the US warned of an impending attack by extremists in the Russian capital.
Within hours, Islamic State had issued a statement saying it was behind the attacks and posted a photo of the gunmen on its social media channel. But yesterday, Putin pointed the finger at Ukraine in an angry national speech.
The Russian leader claimed the terrorists fled the scene in a white Renault and traveled 400 kilometers south to the Bryansk region, where they were about to cross the border into Ukraine.
Russian President Vladimir Putin accused Ukraine of aiding the terrorists in the attack on Moscow’s Crocus City Hall last night
Pictured: One of the arrested men accused of involvement in the attack
Rescue workers work in Crocus town hall, a day after terrorists opened fire on the crowd
A day after the horrific attack, the smoldering remains of the concert hall can be seen here
A photo shows the burning concert hall of the Crocus City Hall after the shooting incident in Krasnogorsk, outside Moscow
A huge fire can be seen above the Crocus City Hall in the western outskirts of Moscow, 20 kilometers from the Kremlin
A photo from last night’s scene shows the Crocus City Hall concert hall engulfed in flames as the venue is surrounded by emergency services
A video recording shows people evacuating Crocus City Hall in the Russian capital, where a sold-out concert by rock band Piknik took place
He said: “They tried to hide and moved towards Ukraine, where, according to preliminary data, a window had been prepared on the Ukrainian side for them to cross the state border.”
Eleven people had been arrested, he added, including the four terrorists: “The Russian Federal Security Service and other law enforcement agencies are working to identify and expose the terrorists’ entire support base.
“Those who provided them with transportation plotted ways to get away from the scene of the crime, prepared shelters and hideouts with weapons and ammunition.”
But a spokesman for Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky angrily denied any involvement in the attacks, saying: “Ukraine has never resorted to the use of terrorist methods. Everything in this war will be decided only on the battlefield.”
Last night, US officials said Islamic State’s claim of responsibility was credible, adding that Afghanistan’s Khorasan province may have carried out the attack.
The US said earlier this month it was aware of an impending attack by “extremists” and warned its citizens in Moscow to avoid large public gatherings.
The Crocus City Hall theater, located 20 kilometers from the Kremlin in the northwest of the city, has a capacity of 6,200 people.
Friday evening’s concert – by Piknik, a rock band from the Soviet era – is said to be sold out.
The carnage began at 7:40 PM local time when concertgoers poured into the venue.
Witnesses said at least four gunmen, wearing camouflage and combat vests with dozens of spare magazines, jumped from a white Renault minivan and calmly headed for the metal detectors at the entrance to the theater. There they shot through the glass doors and windows, killing dozens.
The terrorists were then captured on grainy cellphone footage firing as they walked through the concert hall foyer.
“They behaved like trained fighters,” said one witness. ‘They killed the guards and the people standing at the door. Then they blocked the main entrance.”
Graphic footage showed the gunmen shooting at people trapped in an entrance for a full minute.
Image of the suspected gunmen who opened fire at the Crocus City Hall in Krasnogorsk, Moscow
A map showing the location of the Crocus City Hall, which is located 20 kilometers from the Kremlin in the center of Moscow
The attackers then threw an explosive device into the crowd, starting a fire that eventually burned through the roof of the venue.
A woman, who was treated in hospital for burns to her hands and body, told Russian television: ‘I fell to the ground and pretended to die. The girl next to me was murdered.’
Yulia Khvatkova, who saw the massacre at the entrance, said: “I was wounded in the shoulder, my friend was hit in the arms and legs. Right next to me a woman fell with a bullet through her temple.
‘A cheerful woman was standing at the entrance selling tickets. As we walked away, I saw her lying there with these tickets and a bullet in her head.”
The musicians were still in their dressing room when the first gunshots rang out. At first, the audience in the room thought it was part of the build-up to the show. When it became clear that an attack was underway, the loudspeakers announced that the concert was canceled for ‘technical reasons’. Panic ensued as trapped concertgoers tried to flee.
Yesterday, emergency workers could be seen searching through the wreckage of the theater for bodies and survivors. They reportedly found 28 bodies in a toilet and 14 on an evacuation staircase.
Victims were found dead in family groups, some hugging their loved ones. According to reports, several children were among the victims. About 140 people have been injured, half of whom are still in hospital.
The gunmen were captured six hours later by Chechen fighters loyal to Putin in the Bryansk region. All four arrested men are believed to be Muslims from Tajikistan, which borders Afghanistan.
In footage released on social media, one of the captured terrorists said he had been ordered to attack the theater for a million rubles (£8,599).
It is the worst terrorist attack in Russia since the 2004 Beslan school massacre, which left 334 victims, half of whom were children.
In 2002, 132 hostages were killed in a siege of the Dubrovka Theater in Moscow by Chechen terrorists.