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Kerch Polytechnic College massacre

The Kerch Polytechnic College massacre was a school shooting and bomb attack that occurred in Kerch, Crimea, on 17 October 2018.[2][3] Twenty victims were shot to death and 70 wounded; the perpetrator also committed suicide. The attack was the greatest loss of life in school violence in the former Soviet Union since the Beslan school siege in 2004 where 385 were murdered and another 783 wounded.[4]

Kerch Polytechnic College massacre
Kerch Polytechnic College massacre is located in Crimea
Kerch Polytechnic College massacre
Native name Массовое убийство в Керченском политехническом колледже
Location Kerch Polytechnic College, Kerch, Crimea
Coordinates 45°21′23″N 36°32′08″E / 45.35639°N 36.53556°E / 45.35639; 36.53556
Date 17 October 2018 (2018-10-17) (UTC+3:00)
Weapons
Deaths 21 (including the perpetrator)
Non-fatal injuries
 70
Perpetrator Vladislav Roslyakov

Contents

AttackEdit

External video
  Russia: Hear Moment of Shooting as Kerch College Attack Unfolds *ECLUSIVE - RUPTLY*
 
The perpetrator with the shotgun inside the college

Vladislav Roslyakov purchased a shotgun on 8 September and bought 150 rounds legally at a gun shop on 13 October.[5][6] He entered the grounds of Kerch Polytechnic College on 17 October at about 11:46 a.m.[7] and shortly after began shooting.[8] A survivor of the incident said that the shooting lasted for more than 15 minutes.[9]

Several witnesses described a gunman walking up and down the halls at Kerch Polytechnic College and firing randomly at classmates and teachers. He also fired at computer monitors, locked doors and fire extinguisher.[10] A large nail-bomb[11] detonated, and local police said that they deactivated more explosives on the campus.[12] Student witnesses described the explosion as blasting out the windows, and that people running to escape were shot at point blank range.[13] However, there was initially variation in survivors' accounts of the incident, with some claiming that a large bomb exploded and others describing only gunfire and the use of grenades.[14]

The town website claimed that the explosion occurred on the first floor although the shooting occurred on the second.[15] CNN reported that state television channel Russia-24 said that 200 military personnel had been sent to the location.[16] Eyewitness accounts differ about the time it took for law enforcement to respond, as times differ between 5 and 20 minutes, even though a police station is across the street, some 330 yards away.[7]

A graphic video of the attack was captured by school surveillance cameras and posted on YouTube and LiveLeak.[17][18]

VictimsEdit

Russia's National Anti-Terrorism Committee[19] said that most of the victims were teenagers. Fifteen students and five teachers died and according to the Investigative Committee, all died of gunshot wounds.[20] The Kerch Deputy Mayor Dilyaver Melgaziyev clarified on 18 October that six of the deceased were under the age of 18.[21] Crimean authorities have published a list of the 20 victims who were killed.[22]

The Russian Health Minister Veronika Skvortsova told reporters that a total of 70 people were wounded, 10 were in critical condition, including 5 in comas.[21]

PerpetratorEdit

 
Vladislav Roslyakov

The attack was perpetrated by fourth-year student of the college, 18-year-old Vladislav Igorevich Roslyakov (Russian: Владисла́в И́горевич Росляко́в; 2 May 2000 – 17 October 2018).[23]

When Roslyakov was around ten years old, his parents broke up when his father sustained a severe head injury, after which he became disabled and aggressive towards Roslyakov, his mother and other relatives.[24] Roslyakov studied at a local school with no interest and poor grades. He had few friends and his hobbies included weapons and video games.[25] In 2015 he joined the college to study to become an electrician. In college he developed an interest in explosives and weapons and started to take a knife bayonet to class.[26] One day he discharged pepper spray in a class and failed to explain his actions.[27] His mother belonged to the local Jehovah's Witnesses,[28][29][30][31] limited his social activity, searched his pockets and refused to allow him to go to the cinema or use a computer, only allowing the latter when he turned 16.[32][33][31][34] In the days before the attack he stated that he did not believe in the afterlife.[35] On the eve of the attack, according to neighbors, Roslyakov burned a Bible in which he had highlighted verses.[36]

A friend has claimed that Roslyakov "hated the polytechnic very much" and had vowed revenge on his teachers.[37] There were also reports that he may have been bullied. According to an ex-girlfriend, he said he had lost confidence in people when his classmates started to ridicule him because he was not like everyone else.[38] In the days before the attack he discussed ignorance by others, the lack of sense in his life, possible shooting and suicide on social media.[35] Roslyakov was in a number of online communities dedicated to serial killers.[39]

 
Vladislav Roslyakov caught on surveillance camera

Surveillance footage of the incident captured Roslyakov carrying an eight-shot 12 gauge Hatsan Escort Aimguard pump-action shotgun with a pistol grip and wearing black trousers and a white T-shirt with the Russian word "НЕНАВИСТЬ" (hatred).[12][35] His outfit resembled that of Eric Harris, one of the perpetrators of the 1999 Columbine High School massacre in the United States, leading to speculation that the massacre was a copycat crime.[40][41] According to some Russian tabloids, he also was in one of the Eric and Dylan's fanclubs on social networks, and told his friends that "it would be good to have a massacre",[42] pointing out the tragedy in Columbine as an example, and separately mentioning that the perpetrators are "awesome gone".[39]

Roslyakov committed suicide in the library of the college, by shooting himself with his shotgun.

InvestigationEdit

 
Hatsan Escort Aimguard 12-gauge pump-action shotgun

Investigators in the days after the attack are attempting to establish Roslyakov's motive and suggested that they are treating it as a school shooting.[14] Officials are investigating concerns in the case such as, where did Roslyakov get the 30,000–40,000 rubles (about $450–600 USD) for the weapon, and where did he learn to use his weapons.[7] It was discovered, Roslyakov obtained a weapon permit in 2018 and owned the gun legally, after completing a legally required training on weapon security and presenting all required documents, including medical report. He periodically attended a shooting club.[43] Shortly before the shooting he legally purchased 150 rounds of ammunition.[44][45]

The Investigative Committee ordered a psychiatric evaluation of Roslyakov postmortem.[46] Crimean Prime Minister Sergey Aksyonov stated on 18 October that it is possible the perpetrator had an accomplice, and police were searching for the individual "who was coaching" Roslyakov for the crime.[47]

ReactionsEdit

CrimeanEdit

Crimean Prime Minister Sergey Aksyonov announced that there would be three days of mourning in Crimea. Crimean State Council speaker Vladimir Konstantinov announced that the victims' families would receive financial compensation, with preliminary discussions suggesting that the payments would be 1 million rubles (USD 17140.9) from the federal and local budget.[16] He also said that it was impossible to conceive that 18-year-old suspect Vladislav Roslyakov had prepared the attack by himself saying "On the ground, he acted alone, that is already known and established, but in my opinion and in the opinion of my colleagues this reprobate could not have carried out the preparations."[48]

RussianEdit

Russia's Investigative Committee initially classified the attack as terrorism but later changed it to mass murder.[11][12] It was reported that some Russian politicians thought the Ukrainian government was responsible for the attack, but changed their views after more information emerged,[12] while others questioned whether Roslyakov was sufficiently checked before being allowed to purchase a gun and ammunition, which Roslyakov legally did.[49] Sergei Mikhailovich Smirnov, deputy head of Russia’s Federal Security Service (FSB), said the security services needed to have greater control over the Internet.[48][50]

Russian President Vladimir Putin said at the Valdai Discussion Club in Sochi that the attack appeared to be the result of globalisation, social media and the internet, and that "everything started with the tragic events in schools in the US...we're not creating healthy (Internet) content for young people...which leads to tragedies of this kind."[11][51][52][53] Some saw the remarks to be a part of Russians blaming the West for the attack and a linkage with his past as head of the Kremlin and FSB before becoming president which The Irish Times said are "suspicious of the internet and social media, seeing them as western-dominated technologies that can be used to stir up dissent and street protests."[53][49][50]

Russian political analyst Sergey Mikheyev on Russian state TV blamed the attack on "Western subculture," claiming that it "builds its matrix on the cult of violence...the one who has a weapon in his hands is right. This is a purely American approach to the matter."[53] Some media saw the remarks to be a part of Russians blaming the West for the attack.[53][49]

At first, after the first reports of the alleged terrorist attack in Kerch, many Russian politicians and mass media suggested that the events were the activities of "Ukrainian saboteurs".[52]

UkrainianEdit

Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko expressed condolences to the victims, whom he described as Ukrainian citizens, stating that the Prosecutor General's Office of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea had initiated criminal proceedings under the article "act of terrorism".[54][nb 1]

InternationalEdit

Leaders of several other countries also expressed their condolences to the victims of the attack, including Armenia,[56] Estonia, Finland, Germany,[57] Italy, Thailand, the UK,[58] and Venezuela.

The Secretary General of the Council of Europe Thorbjørn Jagland and Secretary-General of the United Nations António Guterres also expressed condolences.[59][60]

Some newspapers described the attack as "Russia's Columbine", a reference to the 1999 US high school massacre.[61][62][52][51] Steven Rosenberg said the attack should not be surprising as he noted there had already been five attacks in schools in Russia in 2018 where a number of children were injured.[11] A Telegraph article also claimed there had been half a dozen school attacks in Russia in 2018, although claiming the previous incidents involved knives and traumatic pistols rather than high-powered firearms.[52]

AftermathEdit

Students returned to studies 23 October, with checkpoints at the entrances in which the students identities are confirmed. A spokesperson for the Rostov Region Directorate of the Russian Emergency Ministry, told reporters: "An examination has been carried out. According to the preliminary information, there is no danger of [the building's] collapse."[63]

MemorialsEdit

External video
  Russia: Kerch Residents pay Tribute to College Attack Victims / Ruptly

Throughout Russia and other countries, hundreds of people gathered for memorials for the victims. In Moscow the memorial of Kerch in the Alexander Garden was decorated with flowers.[64] A makeshift memorial was created outside of the school, for residents and survivors to bring flowers and toys.[65]

A open memorial and funeral for the victims was held in the central square of Kerch, with a speech by Sergey Aksyonov, who told the crowd; "We don't want to talk, we want to weep. The history of Crimea will be divided in two — before and after 17 October. We need to be strong we need to be brave."[66] Around 20,000 people were estimated to have attended the public funeral in Kerch.[67]

See alsoEdit

NotesEdit

ReferencesEdit

  1. ^ "Ружье "для самообороны" и картечь на волка – стало известно, какое оружие использовал "Керченский стрелок"" [Shotgun "for self-defense" and canister shots to a wolf - it became known what weapon the "Kerch shooter" used]. Dialog.ua (in Russian). Retrieved 18 October 2018.
  2. ^ Michael, Tom; Burrows, Thomas; Stewart, Will; du Cann, Gerard (22 October 2018). "COLD-BLOODED KILLER Chilling moment Crimea's Kerch massacre gunman stalks college corridors gunning down victims while remaining terrifyingly calm". The Sun. Retrieved 25 October 2018.
  3. ^ "'We want to live': Terrifying VIDEOS of students fleeing Kerch college massacre". RT. 17 October 2018. Retrieved 17 October 2018.
  4. ^ "The Truth About Beslan". The Weekly Standard. Retrieved November 13, 2006.
  5. ^ "Законно ли у Влада Рослякова было оружие? Законно" [Was Vladimir Roslyakov's weapon legal? Yes, it was.] (in Russian). Mash. 17 October 2018 – via VKontakte.
  6. ^ Beresnev, Valery; Kolebakina-Usmanova, Yelena; Gavrilenko, Aleksandr (18 October 2018). "«У кого-то ногу разорвало, у кого-то – голову»: откуда взялся «керченский стрелок – Химик»". Business Online (in Russian). Retrieved 19 October 2018.
  7. ^ a b c Kravtsova, Irina (19 October 2018). "'How were we supposed to know what was in his head?' Life in Kerch, a day after a school massacre rocked the city". Meduza. Translated by Rothrock, Kevin. Retrieved 2018-10-19.
  8. ^ Reuters (18 October 2018). "Crimean College Shooting: What We Know So Far". The Moscow Times. Retrieved 18 October 2018.
  9. ^ "At least 17 killed in attack on college in Russian-annexed Crimea". CBS News. 17 October 2018. Retrieved 17 October 2018.
  10. ^ Kurdyukova, Anastasia (21 October 2018). "Опубликована видеозапись нападения на керченский колледж: как Росляков устроил бойню". Komsomolskaya Pravda (in Russian). Retrieved 2018-10-22.
  11. ^ a b c d "Crimea attack: College shooting is 'globalisation' result". BBC News. 18 October 2018. Retrieved 18 October 2018.
  12. ^ a b c d Roth, Andrew (17 October 2018). "Crimea college attack: student carries out mass shooting in Kerch". The Guardian. Retrieved 17 October 2018.
  13. ^ "Crimea bloodbath: Seeing friends die and running for their lives – witnesses describe attack horror". RT. 17 October 2018. Retrieved 17 October 2018.
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  16. ^ a b Hodge, Nathan; Burrows, Emma; Tarasova, Darya; Britton, Bianca (18 October 2018). "20 killed in Crimea college gun and bomb attack, Russia says". CNN. Retrieved 22 October 2018.
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  21. ^ a b "All victims of Crimea shooting rampage identified – media". UNIAN. 18 October 2018. Retrieved 2018-10-22.
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  23. ^ "Теракт в колледже Керчи устроил Владислав Росляков". Moskovskij Komsomolets (in Russian). 17 October 2018. Retrieved 17 October 2018.
  24. ^ Degtyaryov, Alexey (18 October 2018). "Соседи керченского стрелка рассказали о жестокости его отца". Vzglyad (in Russian). Retrieved 18 October 2018.
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  27. ^ Morozova, Vasilisa (18 October 2018). "Керченскому стрелку назначили посмертную психиатрическую экспертизу" (in Russian). Zvezda. Retrieved 22 October 2018.
  28. ^ Korelina, Olga. "Массовое убийство в керченском колледже. Что стало известно к 18 октября". Meduza (in Russian). Retrieved 2018-10-23.
  29. ^ Mayorov, Anatoly (21 October 2018). "Трагедия в Керчи: как убийца готовился к расстрелу". NTV.ru (in Russian). Retrieved 2018-10-22.
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  32. ^ "«Росляков не собирался убивать себя»: Психолог пошагово разобрал действия керченского стрелка" (in Russian). Tsargrad TV. 22 October 2018. Retrieved 2018-10-22.
  33. ^ Basov, Vasily (17 October 2018). "Рок и ненависть. Что известно о керченском стрелке Владиславе Рослякове, устроившем бойню в колледже". MediaLeaks (in Russian). Retrieved 2018-10-22.
  34. ^ "Мать под влиянием «Свидетелей Иеговы» обыскивала сына: Подробности жизни керченского стрелка" (in Russian). Tsargrad TV. 17 October 2018. Retrieved 22 October 2018.
  35. ^ a b c Kozurov, Dmitry; Martynova, Alyona (18 October 2018). "«Круто было бы устроить бойню»: керченский стрелок рассказывал друзьям о своих планах атаки на колледж". Komsomolskaya Pravda (in Russian). Retrieved 18 October 2018.
  36. ^ "Керченский убийца накануне бойни сжег Библию". Ren.tv (in Russian). 19 October 2018. Retrieved 22 October 2018.
  37. ^ "Crimea attack: Gun attack at Kerch college kills 19". BBC News. 17 October 2018. Retrieved 17 October 2018.
  38. ^ "Crimea killer was 'bullied', says ex-girlfriend; Putin blames globalisation". timeslive.co.za. 18 October 2018. Retrieved 19 October 2018.
  39. ^ a b "Был бы дробовик". Krymskaya Gazeta (in Russian). 17 October 2018. Retrieved 2018-10-25.
  40. ^ Zhilin, Ivan (17 October 2018). "Керченский колумбайн?" [Kerch Columbine?]. Novaya Gazeta (in Russian). Retrieved 17 October 2018.
  41. ^ "Shocking resemblance: Crimea massacre closely fits Columbine pattern". RT. 17 October 2018. Retrieved 17 October 2018.
  42. ^ Ivanov, Alexey (18 October 2018). "Бойня в Керчи - точная копия расстрела американской школы «Колумбайн»". Komsomolskaya Pravda (in Russian). Retrieved 2018-10-18.
  43. ^ "Керченский убийца прошел оружейную подготовку за 4000 рублей". NTV.ru (in Russian). 20 October 2018. Retrieved 2018-10-21.
  44. ^ Kryuchkov, Oleg (18 October 2018). "Керченский убийца использовал недостатки охраны колледжа". NTV.ru (in Russian). Retrieved 2018-10-21.
  45. ^ Goryashko, Sergey (18 October 2018). "Стрельба в Керчи: как Росляков получил оружие и где взял деньги?" (in Russian). BBC Russian Service. Retrieved 2018-10-21.
  46. ^ "Investigators to Conduct Posthumous Psychiatric Evaluation of Kerch Shooter". Sputnik. 18 October 2018. Retrieved 2018-10-22.
  47. ^ "Manhunt in Crimea for possible accomplice in school attack". Associated Press. 18 October 2018. Retrieved 18 October 2018 – via NBC News.
  48. ^ a b Antonov, Mikhail (18 October 2018). "Putin blames fatal college attack in Crimea on localization". Reuters. Retrieved 2018-10-22.
  49. ^ a b c Chance, Matthew (18 October 2018). "Crimea school attack: Russians blame Western culture". CNN. Retrieved 2018-10-22.
  50. ^ a b McLaughlin, Daniel (18 October 2018). "Kremlin blames globalisation and internet for Crimea college massacre". The Irish Times. Retrieved 2018-10-22.
  51. ^ a b Tidey, Alice (18 October 2018). "Putin blames 'globalisation' for Crimea school shooting". Euronews. Retrieved 2018-10-22.
  52. ^ a b c d "Putin says Crimean school shooting result of 'globalisation'". Telegraph.co.uk. 18 October 2018. Retrieved 2018-10-22.
  53. ^ a b c d Quinn, Rob (19 October 2018). "Russians Blame 'Western Subculture' for School Massacre". Newser. Retrieved 2018-10-22.
  54. ^ a b "Poroshenko: Crimea's PGO initiates criminal proceedings following terrorist attack in Kerch". UNIAN. 17 October 2018. Retrieved 2018-10-22.
  55. ^ Gutterman, Steve; Polityuk, Pavel (18 March 2014). "Putin signs Crimea treaty, will not seize other Ukraine regions". Reuters. Retrieved 26 March 2014.
  56. ^ "Armenia acting PM: We strongly condemn this act of violence". news.am. 18 October 2018. Retrieved 18 October 2018.
  57. ^ "Меркель выразила соболезнования в связи с трагедией в Керчи". RBC.ru (in Russian). 17 October 2018. Retrieved 18 October 2018.
  58. ^ "FCO Statement on the attack at Kerch Polytechnic College in Crimea". GOV.UK. Retrieved 18 October 2018.
  59. ^ "World expresses condolences over Kerch college shooting in Crimea". TASS. 18 October 2018. Retrieved 2018-10-22.
  60. ^ "UN secretary general expresses condolences to families of victims in college shooting". TASS. 18 October 2018. Retrieved 2018-10-22.
  61. ^ "Crimea mourns victims of school massacre". TheNational.ae. 19 October 2018. Retrieved 20 October 2018.
  62. ^ "Russian investigators seek Crimea gunman's motive". Global Times. 18 October 2018. Retrieved 20 October 2018.
  63. ^ "Kerch College Students Return to Studies Week After Bomb, Shooting Attack". Sputnik. 23 October 2018. Retrieved 2018-10-23.
  64. ^ "Hundreds of people paid tribute to the victims of Kerch Polytechnic College". tellerreport.com. 17 October 2018. Retrieved 18 October 2018.
  65. ^ Vasilyeva, Nataliya (18 October 2018). "Crimean city turns to mourning 20 victims of school attack". The Washington Post. Retrieved 2018-10-19.
  66. ^ "Crimea mourns school massacre victims at tearful funeral". Dunya News. 20 October 2018. Retrieved 2018-10-20.
  67. ^ "About 20,000 people pay last tributes to victims of Crimea college attack". Aysor.am. 19 October 2018. Retrieved 2018-10-23.
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