Propaganda from Russia is indistinguishable from news these days. The first thing is to try and blame "the enemy" of the time;
“They tried to hide and moved towards Ukraine, where, according to preliminary data, a window was prepared for them from the Ukrainian side to cross the state border,” he said.
“Whoever they are, whoever is guiding them. I repeat: we will identify and punish everyone who stands behind the terrorists.
“The main thing now is to prevent those who are behind this bloodbath from committing a new crime.”
I don't believe for a moment these were Ukrainian or there was any Ukrainian involvement, there is no other even remotely similar incident from Ukraine, but blame must be apportioned, and who better than the current enemy.
Despite being warned by various intelligence agencies the Russian security services implemented no heightened security procedures and seemed to take so long to react that the gunman simply walked out, bizarre!
Earlier this month, the US embassy in Moscow issued a security alert after receiving reports that “extremists have imminent plans to target large gatherings in Moscow, to include concerts”.
At the time, US citizens were advised “to avoid large gatherings over the next 48 hours”
US National Security Council spokesman Adrienne Watson said the US government “shared this information with Russian authorities in accordance with its longstanding ‘duty to warn’ policy.”
But in a speech earlier this week, Putin dismissed warnings and accused the West of making “provocative statements”.
“I’ll remind you of recent, let’s say directly, provocative statements of certain official Western structures about potential terror attacks in Russia,” Putin said.
“All of this looks like obvious blackmail and an attempt to intimidate, destabilise our country.”
It gets even stranger, they just walked in, through the main entrance, no guards, no security despite the warning that concerts were likely to be attacked, it's almost as if the security forces were instructed to stay away;
Horror footage of five heavily armed gunmen in camouflage gear has appeared online.
Reports suggest the men entered the concert hall at around 8pm Friday night local time (4am Saturday AEDT) and began shooting at around 6200 people believed to be inside.
It has been reported they gained access through both the main entrance and underground parking lot.
There were there shooting for 15 to 20 minutes and still just walked out?
“People who were in the hall were led on the ground to protect themselves from the shooting for 15 or 20 minutes,” the RIA Novosti journalist was quoted as saying.
Exits locked!
“They threw some petrol bombs, everything started burning. We were led out towards an exit. The exit door was locked so we went to the basement of the venue, where we waited for rescuers.”
Another witness said there was a “terrible crush” as people tried to escape and people “were climbing on their heads to get out”.
How much is this is propaganda, how much is actual news who knows, but some of the men, apparently captures by Chechens while en route to Ukraine, were apparently interrogated on the spot with violence and torture.
One suspect can be seen barefoot with his arms and legs tied together while blood pours from the forehead of the second suspect. Another suspect is shown shaking on his knees as he apparently confesses to carrying out the mass shooting, which left at least 133 people dead.
We may never know the actual truth of this attack, but every report just makes it a more bizarre incident, a concert where children and teenagers were present, no security at the doors or indeed any other entries, locked exits, up to 20 minutes of freedom to kill with no police presence? Surely they should have been nearby but they aren't even mentioned in any reports. No military security, no venue guards mentioned at all as dying in the attack? The entire thing is so strange. It has been suggested Putin will use this attack to ramp up Russian war efforts and come down even harder on dissidents and opposition....oh surprise!
https://www.news.com.au/world/europe/40 ... 02d7a63ae3
https://www.news.com.au/world/europe/mu ... 5528504cc2