Support The Moscow Times!

Who Do Russians Blame for the Moscow Concert Attack?

At least 133 people were killed and 152 others were wounded when camouflaged gunmen stormed a concert hall in a Moscow suburb and set fire to the building on Friday night.

The Islamic State jihadist group has claimed responsibility for the mass killing, which Russian President Vladimir Putin called a "barbaric terrorist attack" and said would not go left unpunished.

But questions remain as to how the gunmen were able to carry out their attack with seeming ease despite prior warnings from Western governments that such an incident was "imminent."

We asked people in Moscow the day following the attack who they believed stood to gain from the mass killing and whether they thought the government's response was enough.

… we have a small favor to ask.

As you may have heard, The Moscow Times, an independent news source for over 30 years, has been unjustly branded as a "foreign agent" by the Russian government. This blatant attempt to silence our voice is a direct assault on the integrity of journalism and the values we hold dear.

We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. Our commitment to providing accurate and unbiased reporting on Russia remains unshaken. But we need your help to continue our critical mission.

Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just 2. It's quick to set up, and you can be confident that you're making a significant impact every month by supporting open, independent journalism. Thank you.

Continue