Is Putin repeating the Nord-Ost scenario?
In October 2002, a theater center in Moscow Dubrovka was seized. Putin and the FSB led the operation personally, according to some sources. A group of armed terrorists took more than 900 people in the audience and Nord-Ost musical performers hostage. Three days later, law enforcers started an operation to release hostages and used a secret "sleeping" gas. During the terrorist act and the police attack that followed, 130 hostages died and all the terrorists were killed.
Multiple questions about this terrorist act and its true organizers remain unanswered to this day. According to one of the versions, it was FSB.
Fighting terrorism was used as a pretext to increase control over Russians and a cause to enhance the war in the Caucasus.
Today's terrorist act in Krokus City Hall looks like a direct analogy with those events. Putin and the FSB can well be behind this tragedy, as well.
How were armed people able to get inside a public building? Why wasn't a place of mass gathering not given enough and proper security? Why did it take special police forces an hour to get there, and the fire fighters weren't putting out fire while they were waiting for the police forces?
Could it be so they could capture the most vivid image of what was going on?
It's quite possible that the "Ukranian trace" will appear during the investigation of the accident. Then, mobilization and escalation in the war against Ukraine will follow.
The Kremlin has needed a reason for a long time to announce a new wave of complete, not partial mobilization in Russia and bring Russians to the frontlines in Ukraine. Additionally, it would be a good reason to tighten control within Russia, announcing a "crusade" against any alternative opinions that differ from the official "party line".
The White House has said that it sees no signs of Ukraine or Ukrainians being involved in the terrorist act in Moscow.
Meanwhile, Russian media already spread an idea that a "Ukrainian assault group" is to blame for the accident.
