The terrorist militia IS has claimed responsibility for the devastating attack in Moscow that left more than 130 dead. However, Kremlin leader Vladimir Putin claims there is a trail leading to Ukraine, which Kiev dismisses as ‘absurd’. “Because of the attack, the Kremlin needs an explanation,” says Russia expert Gerhard Mangott in an assessment to the “Krone”.
“How could the immense security apparatus not eliminate the attackers in advance, especially since warnings had come from the US?” Mangott asks. Their secret services had already pointed out the danger of an impending attack in early March.
Putin dismissed the warnings as a provocation
The U.S. Embassy in Moscow wrote on March 7 that it was following reports that extremists had imminent plans to attack large gatherings in Moscow, including concerts. She urged compatriots to avoid crowds and otherwise behave carefully. Putin dismissed these warnings as Western provocations. The purpose of such warnings from the West is to destabilize the situation in Russia, he claimed early this week in a speech to the domestic secret service FSB.
After the attack on Crocus City Hall, which left at least 133 dead, including three children, the Kremlin reported the arrest of 11 people. Among them are the four suspected murderers. They’re not Russians. However, the Russian Ministry of Internal Affairs has not announced which citizenships these are. Many are possible: “The terrorist cell consists of members of different nationalities,” Mangott explains.
“Retaliation” for operations in Syria?
The IS propaganda channel Amak spoke of a ‘heavy blow’ against Russia that was aimed at ‘thousands of Christians in a music hall’. ISIS fights the followers of Christianity and considers them infidels. Moscow’s foreign policy has also been a thorn in the side of the Islamists for years. “The terrorist act could be a ‘retaliation’ for the close ties between Russia and the Afghan Taliban, the main opponent of IS Khorasan. “It could also be ‘retaliation’ for the deployment of Russian soldiers in Syria, who have been fighting alongside President al-Assad against the Islamists there since 2015,” the Russia expert said.
First shot into the crowd and then set on fire
Perpetrators wearing camouflage clothing opened fire with automatic weapons on visitors to the Crocus City Hall on the outskirts of Moscow on Friday evening, the investigative committee responsible for serious crimes said. Some victims were killed by gunfire, others by a large fire in the building complex. According to media reports, the attackers started the fire with gasoline cans they carried in backpacks. In addition to the deaths, more than 120 people were injured in Russia’s worst terrorist attack in two decades. On Saturday morning, long lines of people wanted to donate blood formed in Moscow.
“In addition to the horrors of the war against Ukraine, there is now the Islamic attack from which Russia was spared for years. Gerhard Mangott is convinced that the feeling of insecurity among the Russian population will increase.
There have been several serious terrorist attacks in Russia in the past. In September 2004, a hostage situation at a school in Beslan (North Ossetia) ended with 360 deaths. Chechen rebels also took more than 800 hostages at a musical theater in Moscow in October 2002. During the liberation operation, 129 hostages and approximately 40 terrorists were killed. In the fall of 1999, more than 300 people were killed in several bomb attacks on apartment buildings in Moscow. The explosions were blamed on Chechen terrorists, but were never solved. The FSB was probably behind it to give then Prime Minister Putin a pretext for war against Chechnya.
Kremlin: “Perpetrators wanted to go into hiding in Ukraine”
The Kremlin chief spoke Saturday afternoon about Ukraine’s alleged involvement in the terrorist attack. Referring to four of the arrested men, he said: “They tried to hide and headed towards Ukraine.” Some people on the Ukrainian side were willing to let them cross the border. Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova wrote on Telegram: “We now know in which country these damned bastards wanted to hide from persecution: Ukraine.”
Ukraine’s military intelligence service HUR has clearly rejected the claims. Putin’s accusation is an “absolutely false and absurd statement,” said HUR representative Andriy Yusov. “The large-scale invasion has been going on for more than two years, the border areas are full of enemy troops, special agents, representatives of secret services and security forces. The border line has been mined and is being monitored by all possible means, including aerial reconnaissance from both sides.” The Ukrainian added: “This version, of course, cannot withstand any criticism. Everyone in the world understands that, except maybe the zombified Russian population.” Yussov also accused the Kremlin of trying to use the tragedy in Moscow to further intensify repression at home.
Despite Kiev’s assurances that he was not involved in the attack, influential Russian lawmaker Andrei Kartapolov called for a clear and concrete response on the battlefield if the opposite proves true.
“Pure cynicism”
For Russia expert Gerhard Mangott, it is “not surprising that individual politicians in Russia are trying to arouse suspicion towards Ukraine. That would at least reinforce the narrative that Ukraine also poses a threat to Russia’s civilian population. In this way, citizens could be emotionally mobilized for the Russian war against this country. But that would be pure cynicism.”
Source: Krone
I am Wallace Jones, an experienced journalist. I specialize in writing for the world section of Today Times Live. With over a decade of experience, I have developed an eye for detail when it comes to reporting on local and global stories. My passion lies in uncovering the truth through my investigative skills and creating thought-provoking content that resonates with readers worldwide.
