Putin: They fled towards Ukraine after the barbaric act

Vladimir Putin

Putin's first words after the attack: Bloody and barbaric

Martin Palmborg

Updated 14.35 | Published 14.30

In a speech to the nation, Putin calls the attack on the concert hall "bloody and barbaric".

- Everyone who is behind the terrorist attack will be punished, says the president.

At the same time, he claims that the perpetrators "tried to hide and moved towards Ukraine".

On Saturday afternoon, the first words came from Putin about the terrorist attack after half a day of silence.

He began by expressing his condolences to all the relatives, thanked the rescue workers and declared March 24 as a national day of mourning.

- Everyone who is behind the terrorist attack will be punished, says Putin in the speech.

Directs suspicions towards Ukraine

Putin says that the four perpetrators who participated in the attack were arrested when they "tried to hide and moved towards Ukraine".

There, according to the president, a "window" has been prepared for them on the Ukrainian side.

The FSB security service has previously stated that the perpetrators were in contact with people in Ukraine.

Ukraine denies that the country has anything to do with the act.