Russia: school shooting in Kazan
A 19-year-old went on a shooting spree at his former school in the Russian city of Kazan, killing nine people and injuring 20. The suspect, who has since been detained, called himself God on a Telegram post and announced his plans before the attack, albeit in a cryptic manner. Russia's press asks if and how such incidents can be prevented.
Psychology offers better protection than guards
Criminologist Igor Sundiyev calls in Izvestia for more psychological supervision rather than more formal security measures at schools:
“Often, young terrorists vent their aggression on the institutions where they used to study. The reason for this is that frustration becomes an all-consuming factor in pathologically neurotic young people, and the possibility of avenging their suffering becomes a life goal. To protect children from such aggressors, setting up guard posts everywhere is pointless. Guards are usually alone and nearing retirement age. What can they really do to stop an armed criminal? At best, they can press an alarm button before they die. Instead, close psychological monitoring of the children is needed.”
Real extremists are uninteresting
Echo of Moscow accuses the state of fighting bogus threats rather than real ones:
“The system isn't geared towards ensuring security, but towards self-preservation. In this country there are hundreds of cases against extremists whose extremism lies in nothing more than likes, pictures and shared posts. ... Then when a concrete situation arises, what do we see? ... A teenager making real threats online, in effect announcing his impending crime - and no one cares. Because catching real criminals and extremists is difficult and uninteresting. ... So it's only a matter of time until the next tragedy comes along.”