2024-03-25 08:38:54
- Kyiv: We are at war with the aggressor on our territory, not with civilians on foreign territory
- US services gave a signal already on March 7
- The attacks of the “Islamic State” are increasingly daring and are spreading around the world
Blackmail with the aim of destabilizing the country – this is how Russian President Vladimir Putin defined the warning of the American security services, which already signaled on March 7 that there is a risk of extremism in Moscow. And 10 days later, when he won his fifth term in office, he promised the Russians security. In that sense, the deadliest terrorist attack in the last 20 years dealt a heavy blow to his narrative. And during the first hours he was silent.
Around 8:00 p.m. on Friday night, four armed men in camouflage uniforms burst into the Crocus City Hall in the western part of the Russian capital, Moscow, and opened fire on the crowds gathered for a rock concert, then unperturbed, set fire to the hall with grenades (see graphic). This raised the question of whether any security measures had been taken at all considering the gathering of thousands of people in one place. As a result of the merciless attack, 137 people died, including 3 children, and another 107 were injured.
11 people have been detained, two of them are the shooters. It is believed that they were preparing the attack. The other shooters were killed, the BBC reported. According to the information of the investigators
none of them it’s not in Russian citizenship
Meanwhile, thousands around the world gathered to mourn the victims. Russia declared Sunday a day of mourning and lowered its flags to half-mast. In Moscow, citizens paid tribute to the dead with piles of flowers and candles. All world leaders condemned the bloody terrorist act, and as a sign of sympathy, the tallest building in the world – Burj Khalifa, lit up in the colors of the Russian flag. Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Maria Gabriel announced that Bulgaria stands against terrorism. President Rumen Radev also condemned the attack. Mourners gathered in front of the Russian embassy in Sofia.
The Afghan branch of the Islamic State group claimed responsibility for the bloodbath. On Sunday, they published a photo of the attackers, who, according to the group, carried out the attack. US intelligence confirmed. However, after a 20-hour silence, Putin implicated Ukraine in the incident. According to him, the terrorists tried to escape and were moving towards Ukraine, where a “window” was prepared for them to cross the border. He presented no evidence.
Ukraine categorically distanced itself from what happened. “The fact that Putin remained silent for 24 hours and then tried to blame Ukraine for the attack was absolutely predictable,” said Volodymyr Zelensky. We are at war with the aggressor in our country, not with civilians in Russia, Kiev explained.
According to CNN journalist Frederik Pleitgen, the version presented by Putin is difficult to implement – the border with Ukraine is now a front line, and this makes it difficult to escape from there.
The Islamic State of Khorasan, or ISIS-K, the group that claimed responsibility for the attack was formed in 2015. These fighters were originally affiliated with Al Qaeda, but its leaders later pledged allegiance to the Islamic State. “. She is one of the most serious opponents of the Taliban in Afghanistan. The group has carried out bloody attacks, trying to use violence to undermine the Taliban’s relations with regional allies and portray the government as
incapable to guarantee security
of Afghan citizens, writes in “New York Times”. After the Taliban seized power in Afghanistan, ISIS-K attacked the Russian embassy in Kabul, tried to kill Pakistan’s top diplomat and sent gunmen to a prominent hotel, home to many Chinese citizens, to thwart the Taliban’s promise to restore peace. Recently, however, attacks by the Islamic State branch have become more daring and have spread beyond the borders of Afghanistan. In July terrorists killed at least 43 people at a political rally in Pakistan, and in January there were at least 84 casualties in Iran. ISIS-K had a direct clash with Russian troops on the territory of Syria in 2015, and Russia is listed as an enemy of the Islamic State.
In us: the police and gendarmerie patrolling already with guns
Police officers with rifles and their colleagues from the gendarmerie are already patrolling the cities in our country after the attack near Moscow. They were ordered on Saturday morning by the resigned Interior Minister Kalin Stoyanov.
Heavily armed uniformed patrols not only in central city areas but also around key places with a large flow of people such as railway stations, stadiums and others.
The police presence has also been increased in places where groups of migrants gather. They will maintain order and ensure safety.
In addition, inspections of weapons stores have also begun. There, it is monitored whether the regulations for the sale of weapons and cartridges, for which a special permit is required, are followed.
The purpose of the measures ordered by Kalin Stoyanov is to prevent violations of public order and increase vigilance, the Ministry of the Interior explained succinctly. For now, the measures do not have a deadline, they can be strengthened or reduced at any time.