Just a few hours ago (from the time of writing this article), a vile terrorist attack happened at the Crocus City Hall music venue at Krasnogorsk (Moscow), ~20 km from the Red Square and the Cremlin. You can find and follow the breaking news in many news outlets, such as TASS, The Guardian (live), BBC (live), CNN, Al Jazeera, etc.
Here is what a Russian Telegram channel is reporting (machine-translated):
At least 5 terrorists shot people at Crocus, special forces arrived on the scene, people are being evacuated from the roof of the burning building
▪️ 40 people killed and more than 100 injured in terrorist attack at Crocus City Hall - source 112.
▪️ One eyewitness describes the terrorists: At least 5 bastards, bearded. Acting like trained and prepared militants. They killed the guards and people standing at the door as they entered the building. Then they blocked the main entrance.
▪️ The terrorists are armed with AKM assault rifles. Some are carrying unloads [?] with various ammunition. At least two of the attackers are carrying rucksacks, possibly with incendiary mixtures.
▪️ The shooting started simultaneously in both the auditorium and the foyer, where crowds of people were at the time. The terrorists set fire to seats in the auditorium, from where the fire spread to almost the entire building.
▪️ Firefighters evacuated about 100 people, people are being rescued from the roof with the help of lifting mechanisms, the Emergencies Ministry's Main Department reports.
In the Telegram channel linked above you can also find photos and videos of some shootings: innocent defenceless civilians have been killed point blank for no reason other than creating terror.
We do not know yet if the terrorists have been killed, arrested or anything else about them, however John Kirby, the White House national security spokesperson, is already sure that Ukraine is not behind this heinous terrorist attack. This is what he said (source: The Guardian):
There’s no indication at this time that Ukraine, or Ukrainians were involved in the shooting... We’re taking a look at it, but I would disabuse you at this early hour of any connection to Ukraine.
In fact, Maria Zakharova, wrote on her Telegram channel:
The White House says it sees no indication that Ukraine or Ukrainians were involved in the terrorist attack in Moscow.
On what basis do officials in Washington draw any conclusions in the midst of the tragedy about anyone's non-involvement? If the United States has or had reliable data on this matter, it should be immediately handed over to the Russian side.
And if there is no such data, the White House has no right to issue indulgences to anyone.
All those involved, as the Russian leadership has stated, will be identified by the competent authorities.
Also, “funny” enough, this is what the Financial Times reported earlier today (22/03/2024), following Ukrainian attacks on Russian oil refineries in the last few days:
“We do not encourage or enable attacks inside of Russia,” an NSC [National Security Council] spokesperson said. The CIA [Central Intelligence Agency] declined to comment. In Kyiv, a spokesperson for the SBU [Security Service of Ukraine] declined to comment. Officials at GUR [Main Directorate of Intelligence (of Ukraine)] and Zelensky’s office did not respond to requests for comment.
And this is the Security Alert that the US Embassy in Russia released on 7th March 2024 - sure it was 2 weeks ago, nevertheless it is quite disturbing:
How could they know about extremists’s “plans to target large gathering in Moscow, to include concerts”? And did the American secret services pass any information to the Russian one? Because this is what they should do, if they are aware of any planned terrorist attacks, rather than just going public to warn only their own citizens!
To me it is quite clear who is behind this shocking terrorist attack: the secret services of USA, i.e. the CIA, and UK, i.e. the MI6. They are the instigators, though the perpetrators are probably Ukrainians or Russian traitors.
In the meantime, Mykhailo Podolyak, an adviser to Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskiy, tweeted the following on X:
“Ukraine has never resorted to the use of terrorist methods”? Really?! What about Daria Dugina’s murder or Tatarsky’s homicide? What shall we say about the drone attacks against civilian targets in Russia, including skyscrapers in Moscow? And the bombing of the Kerch bridge?
What is worrying is that this terrorist attack looks like an escalatory move to provoke the Russian bear into an aggressive response, so that NATO may retaliate and bring a fully fledged war. After all, we have recently been hearing:
Charles Michel, the President of the European Council, saying “If we want peace, we must prepare for war”;
Ursula von der Leyen, the President of the European Commission, stating that there is a need to “prioritise defence joint procurement, just as we did with vaccines or with natural gas”;
Emmanuel Macron, the President of France, telling the world that he does not rule out sending French troops to Ukraine.
So… what’s going to happen next?
Earlier today Russia has retaliated Ukrainian attacks on its oil refineries with a precision missile strikes on Ukrainian energy infrastructure in Odessa, Ivano-Frankivsk, Zaporizhzhya, Kharkiv, Khmelnitsky, Dnipropetrovsk and Lviv regions, with the biggest hit probably being the Dnipro hydroelectric power station.
I do not know if the terrorist attack tonight was a response to these attacks today, nevertheless I do not want to think of what the Russian answer to this terrorist attack could be… though I am pretty sure that the Russians will not avenge their innocent citizens with killing of innocent civilians in Ukraine. After all, Russians and Ukrainians are brothers and sister. It is only Ukronazis in Kiev and their NATO enablers that need to be disposed of!
I will end this article with the words of the Deputy Chairman of Russia’s Security Council, Dmitry Medvedev, from his Telegram channel:
To the families of those who died in the terrorist attack - my sincere condolences, and my heartfelt strength to all the loved ones of the victims.
Terrorists understand only retaliatory terror. No courts and investigations will help if force is not countered by force, and total executions of terrorists and repression against their families are not countered by deaths. World experience.
If it is established that these are terrorists of the Kiev regime, it is impossible to do otherwise with them and their ideological inspirers. All of them must be found and ruthlessly destroyed as terrorists. Including officials of the state that committed such an atrocity.
Death for death.
UPDATE (23/03/2024): Former CIA analyst, Larry Johnson, has posted his analysis of what happened last night in Moscow on his blog, following claim of responsibility by ISIS-K - I suggest that you read it, as it worth your time (it is a short read, anyway), or that you watch his videos, if you prefer.
Simplicius The Thinker has also posted an analysis of recent events in Ukraine and Russia here - it is a much longer article than Larry Johnson’s one, but I strongly recommend it too:
2nd UPDATE (23/03/2024): The FSB (the Federal Security Service of Russia) has stated that it has arrested 11 suspects, who were heading towards the Russian border with Ukraine and “had relevant contacts on the Ukrainian side” [source: The Guardian]. Interesting, isn’t it? Especially considering that yesterday the White House and the Ukrainian government were saying that Ukraine is not behind the terrorist attack!
Also, I would like to refer you to the latest blog post of Gilbert Doctorow: “Crocus City Hall” attack in Moscow suburb and other important Russian news.
Very good. I do not think that Putin will respond precipitously or emotionally. This is a tragedy but not a terrorist attack on the scale of previous ones. I do not think one should pay any attention to the denials of the Ukrainians and the Americans. "Me? I was just standing over the body with a knife in my hand and blood all over me!" If this were a murder case. The jury would not take long to deliberate.