Putin: Russia will punish all those involved in the theater terrorist attack

President Putin called the attack at the Crocus theater a "barbaric act of terrorism" and pledged to severely punish all those involved.

"Today I will speak about the bloody, barbaric terrorist act that claimed dozens of innocent people," Russian President Vladimir Putin said in a televised speech on March 23. "All four suspects of the terrorist attack were detained while they were heading towards Ukraine. Preliminary information suggests that they had the opportunity to cross the border."

According to Mr. Putin, preliminary data shows that "a door was prepared" on the Ukrainian side for this group to cross the border. He did not provide evidence, while the Ukrainian side firmly denied any connection with the terrorist attack.

Russian President Putin speaks on television on March 23 about the terrorist attack on a theater near Moscow. Photo: Reuters — Russian President Putin speaks on television on March 23 about the terrorist attack on a theater near Moscow. Photo: *Reuters*

"Ukraine is of course not involved in this terrorist attack. Ukraine is defending its sovereignty, liberating its territory and fighting the Russian army, not civilians," Andriy Yusov, spokesman for the Main Intelligence Directorate of the Ukrainian Defense Ministry , said.

Mykhailo Podolyak, an adviser to the President of Ukraine, also said that Russia's accusations had no basis in fact. According to him, if this group of suspects crossed the border into Ukraine, they would face an area of conflict and a heavy presence of Russian security forces.

President Putin said Russian law enforcement forces are working to identify and track down those who provided the means, mapped out the escape route, and prepared weapons for the suspects.

Russia's Investigative Committee said at least 133 people were killed in a terrorist attack at the Crocus City Hall theater in western Moscow on the evening of March 22. Meanwhile, Margarita Simonyan, head of Russia's Russia Today news agency, said 143 people were killed.

Mr Putin expressed his gratitude to all rescue workers, law enforcement agencies and ordinary citizens who helped the victims of the attack. The Russian president also stressed that the country is working to prevent similar attacks.

"In Moscow, as in all regions of the country, anti-terrorist and anti-sabotage measures have been stepped up," he said. "The main goal now is to prevent those behind this tragedy from committing further crimes."

President Putin noted that the group that attacked the theater was "international terrorism" and that he was ready to cooperate with any country that wants to defeat the organization. He did not mention the self-proclaimed Islamic State (IS) group, which claimed responsibility for the terrorist attack.

IS posted a photo of four men on its Telegram account today, claiming they were the gunmen who carried out the attack.

Image of the four gunmen that IS claimed carried out the attack. Photo: Ynet — Image of the four gunmen that IS claimed carried out the attack. Photo: *Ynet*

"The four militants attacked with rifles, pistols, knives and petrol bombs," IS said in a statement, adding that it was part of "the ongoing war with those who oppose Islam".

Russia has so far not commented on IS's claims, nor has it released the identities of the suspects.

The video posted by Ms Simonyan shows Russian officers questioning one of the four arrested suspects, who says he was approached by an assistant to a Muslim cleric and given weapons to carry out the terrorist attack, with the promise of being paid around one million rubles ($10,800).

Huyen Le (According to AFP , Reuters )

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