The shooter, a 19-year-old boy, has been arrested by the police. He is said to be a former student who announced his plans on social media. Regional authorities contradict reports of a second gunman. According to them, the attacker acted alone and nothing is known about a motive.
It is known that the suspect was registered as a gun owner. In response to the shooting, Russian President Vladimir Putin promises to review the country’s firearms laws. The president has also conveyed his condolences to the relatives of the victims.
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The shooting took place in Kazan, a city nearly 800 kilometers east of Moscow. After the number of deaths was unclear, authorities in the region confirmed that 11 people have died. At least 32 others are injured. The children’s hospital in the predominantly Muslim region of Tatarstan has cared for eighteen children.
A number of them are in critical condition, the press service of the regional health ministry told reporters on the spot. “Six are extremely badly injured and are undergoing surgery. The rest have wounds, fractures and bruises and are being examined by doctors, “said a spokesman.
Images circulating on the Telegram messaging service show two students jumping from the third floor to escape the gunmen. According to state news agency RIA they died, but this has not been confirmed by the authorities. The students were trapped in a classroom like rats, a school employee told TASS news agency. They couldn’t hide from the shooter.
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The president of the Tatarstan region, Rustam Minnikhanov, confirmed the death of the children in a broadcast of the TV channel Russia-1. He speaks of a ‘monstrous crime’. “Shoot innocent children. They died here on the third floor. The terrorist was arrested at the age of 19. The weapons are officially in his name, ”said Minnikhanov.
During the shooting, nearly 800 people were in the building. All children were evacuated within 20 minutes. They are received by psychologists. The motive for the attack is still unclear. As a precaution, local authorities have scaled up security at all educational institutions in the city. Classes have been canceled. Tomorrow is a day of mourning.
President Putin says the affected students and their families will be given the best possible support. School shootings in Russia are relatively rare. One of the biggest school shootings was in 2018 when a student shot and killed 19 people in a school before killing himself.
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