Russian President Vladimir Putin has sworn revenge after the four Islamic State terrorists who attacked Crocus City Hall yesterday were ‘captured and detained’.
The ISIS Attack in Moscow
The assailants killed more than 140 people during the attack. Now, Putin has sent out warnings that the four wreckers and all those responsible ‘would be punished’.
The attackers also made sure they left the 6,000 capacity concert hall in Krasnogorsk, outside Moscow, in flames with a collapsing roof.
How The Terrorists Were Captured
Putin said the attackers had sought to escape towards Ukraine and that preliminary information showed that some people on the Ukrainian side had prepared to let them cross the border from Russia.
The Islamic State group claimed responsibility for the massacre, which they have claimed came ‘within the context of a raging war between the Islamic State and countries fighting Islam’.
Yesterday’s attack was the deadliest in Russia in recent years.
Russian state TV editor Margarita Simonyan said earlier today the death toll had climbed to 143, but did not give the source of her information, DailyMail reports.
The condition of 44 survivors – including two children – is described as ‘serious’, while that of 16 other victims, including one child, is ‘extremely serious’.
He added that security in the country had been tightened after gunmen stormed the concert venue last night and opened fire on civilians before burning down parts of the building.
Putin’s Televised Address
The Russian President addressed his people in a televised address to the nation on Saturday:
‘Citizens of Russia, I am addressing to you in connection with the bloody, barbaric terrorist act, the victims of which were dozens of peaceful, innocent people, our compatriots, including children, teenagers, and women.
‘Doctors are now fighting for the lives of the victims, those who are in serious condition.
‘I am sure they will do everything possible and even impossible to save the lives and health of all the wounded.
Special Tributes and Thanks
‘Special thanks to the ambulance and air ambulance crews, special forces soldiers, firefighters, rescuers who did everything to save people’s lives, get them out from under fire, from the epicenter of fire and smoke, and avoid even greater losses.
‘I cannot ignore the help of ordinary citizens, who in the first minutes after the tragedy did not remain indifferent and, along with doctors and special services, provided first aid and took the victims to hospitals.
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Putin Declares National Holiday
‘I express my deep, sincere condolences to all those who lost their loved ones.
‘The whole country and our entire people are grieving with you. I declare March 24 a day of national mourning.
‘Additional anti-terrorist and anti-sabotage measures have been introduced in Moscow and the Moscow region, in all regions of the country.
‘The main thing now is to prevent those who are behind this bloodbath from committing a new crime.’
