At least 15 people were killed, including 11 children, and others were injured in a school shooting in Russia Monday, according to reports.
The gunman, who was identified by Russia’s Investigative Committee as Artyom Kazantsev, opened fire at School No. 88 in Izhevsk. According to The Associated Press.The shooter previously attended the school, according to the outlet.
According to The Washington Post, two teachers and a security guard were killed in the attack. Twenty-three people were injured in the shooting, including 20 children, the Post reported.
Kazantsev, aged 34, was allegedly seen wearing a black T shirt that featured the logo “Nazi symbols,” and was armed with two pistols and a large supply of ammunition, according to Reuters.
Kazantsev allegedly used two non-lethal handguns adapted to fire real bullets, and the guns were not registered with the authorities, Russia’s National Guard said.
The suspect allegedly shot a school security guard before walking into the school and then shot himself after the incident, Alexander Brechalov, the governor of Udmurtia, said in a video statement,the Postreported.
According to the Post, the Investigative Committee said that Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov called the shooting “a terrorist act,” and said that President Vladimir Putin had been made aware of the tragedy.
Although school shootings in Russia are rare compared to the United States, three mass shootings at schools have taken place since May 2021.
Peskov said Monday to The Associated Press that Putin deeply regrets the deaths of children and people at the school. “where a terrorist act took place.”