Mourning day for those killed in Kaspiisk

Daghestan is in mourning today for those killed in the recent act of terrorism in Kaspiisk. The explosion took place May 9, on the Victory Day, at 9:50 Moscow time at Kaspiisk's central square, when a military orchestra was walking from the city square to the cemetery, where wreaths were to be laid to the graves of soldiers who died in WWII. The explosive device had been planted at the edge of the road along which the column was walking. The terrorist act left 34 people killed, including 12 children, 19 servicemen, three civilians and some veterans. 103 persons have been taken to Kaspiisk and Makhachkala hospitals. According to preliminary data, a directed-action antipersonnel mine was used in the act of terror, reports Russia's FSB (Federal Security Service) Daghestan Department. The nature of injuries received by the victims confirms this. The capacity of the explosive device will be established in an expertise to be conducted by investigators. For the time being it is estimated at 3-5 kg of TNT. Russian President Vladimir Putin demanded that criminals be identified, proved guilty and punished as soon as possible. "Such crimes are atrocious and will cause emotional reaction, but it should not prevent us from investigating the crime in full," the President said at an official Kremlin meeting with power ministry heads. Speaking later at a Kremlin function on the occasion of the Victory Day, Russia's national holiday, Putin compared the terrorists with the Nazis. "This crime was committed by bastards for whom there is nothing sacred; we can treat them as the Nazis whose only aim is to sow fear and kill," stressed the president.