«St. Petersburg, We’re With You!»: Russia United in Grief for Those Who Died in the Terrorist Attack

 A funeral rally dedicated to the memory of the victims of the terrorist attack in St. Petersburg has just ended. Thousands of citizens came to the «Technological Institute» station to show that they can’t be intimidated. Today, law enforcement agencies detained alleged accomplices of Akbarzhon Dzhalilov, whom the investigation considers is responsible for the terrorist act. They are all from Central Asia. In their apartment, detectives found a self-made bomb. It is very similar to the one that exploded in the subway. Alexander Balitsky reports from St. Petersburg. Just one word — mourning. Indeed, do we need any other words when hundreds of people are pouring to «Technolozhka», as they always call the Technologichesky Institut station in St. Petersburg? A sea of flowers and white balloons in memory of the lives that ended here on Monday. I believe that everyone should make a contribution. I laid flowers today. I came to band together with everyone in this mass event. This tragedy united not only citizens of St. Petersburg. Not only Russian citizens were among the dead. From the stage and in the crowd, we hear the words «St. Petersburg, be strong», «We are with you» and the main phrase — «We’re not afraid!» And even those who have never met the people, for whom it was the last metro trip, wipe away tears because it’s a mutual pain for them. We must be together with everyone on this day, with our city. Together it’s easier to overcome grief and it makes us stronger.   Meanwhile, in St. Petersburg, they continue to search for accomplices of the alleged terrorist. A special morning operation held in the city’s southeast ended with the arrest of several people. They are already in handcuffs and with sacks on their heads. A self-made explosive device was found in the apartment. Just in case, a fire brigade came to the house, the gas was cut off, and the residents of two blocks were urgently evacuated to the neighboring kindergarten. Everything is fine now. But it was really very scary, because they knocked early in the morning, at approximately 7:40-7:46. They told us to urgently grab documents, children, all relatives, and run out, because the situation is very serious. The detainees were put in a white minibus. Were they handcuffed? They had their hands behind the back and dark hoods on their heads. Around noon, the cordon around the house on Tovarischesky Prospekt was partially removed. Residents of most apartments were allowed to return home. The lower seven floors have already been checked by experts, there is no danger. On the 8th and 9th floors, the investigative actions are continuing. The explosive device itself was deactivated. As the neighbors told us, the one-room apartment on the 8th floor was rented by the people from Central Asia. Their involvement in the subway terrorist attack is being established. Also, the bag with deactivated explosives on Ploshchad Vosstaniya, which was 10 times more powerful than the one that exploded on Sennaya Ploshchad, had fingerprints of another person, which is more proof that Dzhalilov had accomplices. A preventive measure has been chosen today for the eight alleged recruiters of terrorist groups arrested on the eve — arrest. Intelligence agencies have reasons to believe that these people were searching for potential militants among migrants. For almost two years, they had been propagandizing in St. Petersburg. Extremist literature was found in the apartment. This is the official statement of the Investigative Committee. According to preliminary data, they are similar to the explosive device fragments found on Ploshchad Vosstaniya. The first reaction to today’s news about the collapse on the construction site at the house on Solidarity Avenue was «Did it happen again?» Representatives of the National Anti-Terrorism Committee asked not to panic, and to rely only on reliable sources. Reports about new terrorist attacks allegedly being prepared in Russia that flooded the Internet aren’t true. Citizens of St. Petersburg have already shown that they can’t be broken. The driver of the train, Alexander Kaverin, decided to transfer all the money, which complete strangers, quite unexpectedly, started to send him as a token of gratitude, to those who today need it much more, to the severely wounded passengers. I made this decision. I think that I don’t need anything. I am grateful, of course, to this group. And I think that this money should be sent to those who really need them. Passing by an impromptu memorial at the entrance to the station, some silently lay flowers, some just stop. But there is no one who is indifferent. At this moment, candles are burning in windows of thousands apartment buildings in Russia in memory of those who died in the St. Petersburg metro. In a number of cities from Vladivostok to Kaliningrad today, people organized a night of solidarity called «St. Petersburg, We’re With You!» Only in Moscow, more than 50,000 people gathered at Manezhnaya Square. The report of our journalist Denis Davydov. The bridges of St. Petersburg and the Moscow Kremlin Spasskaya Tower are drawn together on the pin. Despite the distance, Muscovites are also together with the citizens of the northern capital. Thousands of people came to Manezhnaya Square to say «St. Petersburg, We’re With You!» It’s grief for everyone. Therefore, there are no particular people here, there are Russian people expressing their grief. When people were transported, drivers offered assistance through geolocation services like «I’m here, guys, I have four seats» or «Two seats. I work till 5 pm». These are the details that form the portrait of our time and our relationships. We are not afraid of anything. Today is proof of it. We are united and we are together. And it will always be this way. Our country is strong! People of different ages and professions are in endless mourning. Everyone was united by grief. They are united by the fact that, despite the terrorist acts, the country will live. I was filled with tears today, when I listened to the song «Live!» The sin that the terrorists committed will always be with them, no matter how many times their souls are reborn. I am sure that our country is strong. There are no posters above the people’s heads. No slogans. This rally isn’t political. There is no Right, no Left. They are not opponents now, since many of them were born in the northern capital. I am from St. Petersburg. But, firstly, I am a Russian citizen. We all mourn. St. Petersburg, we’re with you. But today we express solidarity, solidarity in the unity against terrorism. At this difficult time, citizens of Leningrad and St. Petersburg showed us an example that you can not only withstand, but also support, give a helping hand. The whole country, from Vladivostok to Kaliningrad, is in solidarity with this courage. Today people of different political views and different religions are all together. We say that we can’t be intimidated, we are not afraid. Together, we must all fight against this together, say «No» to terror. Carrying flowers, Muscovites go to the Alexander Garden. The Leningrad Hero-City Monument is covered in scarlet carnations and roses. There are candles, and portraits of those who died as a result of the terrorist attack. Muscovites also use the metro every day. Among the rally’s participants, there are workers of the Moscow subway. Workers of the Moscow metro took to heart the tragedy that occurred in St. Petersburg. Because we have experienced a similar situation several years ago. It seems that everyone came to the Kremlin. Though, the supporters of Alexey Navalny, an opposition figure, said that they wouldn’t support the rally. The one’s who protested in the center of Moscow a few days ago. However, the whole country is together with St. Petersburg. Vladivostok seaport. Here, on the Korabelnaya embankment, two thousand people protested against terror. For peace, we are for a better future. But, they are against us. But it’s absolutely incomprehensible what they stand for. Residents of Kemerovo went through a park with ribbons saying «We won’t be intimidated». Novosibirsk, Tambov, Belgorod are together against terror. St. Petersburg is equally close to everyone. A large-scale rally was held in Astrakhan, where terrorists recently shot up policemen. Citizens came to honor their memory as well. We are ready to eradicate this evil once and for all! The rally «St. Petersburg, We’re With You!» held across Russia gathered tens of thousands of caring people. In Kazan, after the memorial evening, white balloons were released into the sky. In Cherkessk, cadets set free white pigeons for world peace.

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