Terrorist Attack in Crocus City Hall
Russia is in morning after a terrible attack by armed gunmen leave more than 130 people dead and 140 injured in Moscow's Crocus City Hall. Russian civilians were stunned to witness a terror assault on innocent people on a random evening; so was the world.
The question being asked instantly by the international community was who is responsible for this terror attack - a very reasonable question in this period of high world tensions. A group which many had not heard from in some time has returned and is at the center of the worlds attention - ISIS.
Crocus City Hall after the Attack
With the gunmen behind this act of terror being caught they are currently under Russian Federal custody and being interrogated. Many nations on the international stage condemned this terror attack including Ukraine who released a statement emphasizing that they were not behind the attempt and accusing Russia for using the event as a false flag operation to escalate the war. Russia's Response
President Putin released a statement emphasizing some key points. Speeches very often have hidden meanings and can show the intention behind them. In this case Putin signaled and mentioned the below:
- Theme of vengeances: "Rightfully and inevitable punished." Russia aims to use unleash its full power on the attackers. He is making it very clear that Russia will not be tread on and will punish those responsible harshly signaling strength.
- Theme of Conspiracy: "Whoever they are and whoever directed them" - "We will identify... everyone who stood behind the terrorists." Here President Putin is trying to imply that there is a deeper enemy behind this attack and that these terrorists where not acting alone. That they were supposedly ordered by someone. He does not mention ISIS yet even though they official took responsibility suggesting it either does not fit his narrative or he simply does not believe it was them.
- Theme of patriotism: "Attack against Russia, Against Our People." Very often in national emergencies and times of mourning state leaders need to act as a beacon to the people and use such situations to rally national unity and use them to also boost their popularity. Similar to President Bush's speech after the horrific attack 9/11, President Putin is trying to establish this as an attack on all of Russians and the country itself to create a feeling of unity amongst the people and bring them together through this attack.
Furthermore, Putin claimed in his public address that they caught 11 perpetrators fleeing to Ukraine. This very likely will lead to an increase between the two nations since President Putin has made it very clear throughout the war that an attack on Russia soil or any form of attack hurting Russian civilians will be punished to a great extent.
President Putin's Public Address after the Attack
Overall, in a time with such high tensions this attack this attack could have two purposes, unify the West and East - morally at least - in condemnation against this atrocious attack or further increase tensions with Russia drawing links between the attackers and Ukraine.