Putin tells security agents to 'take no prisoners' after St. Petersburg market attack

A Russian officer stands guard at the cite of a market blast in St. Petersburg.
(Image credit: OLGA MALTSEVA/AFP/Getty Images)

Russian President Vladimir Putin has told the nation's Federal Security Service agents to "not take any prisoners" after a terrorist attack in a St. Petersburg market on Wednesday injured more than a dozen people, Reuters reports.

Speaking at a ceremony for Russians who served in Syria, Putin said Thursday: "I yesterday ordered the FSB director to act within the framework of the law when detaining these bandits of course, but if there is a threat to the life and well-being of our employees ... to act decisively, not take any prisoners, and liquidate the bandits on the spot."

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Jeva Lange

Jeva Lange was the executive editor at TheWeek.com. She formerly served as The Week's deputy editor and culture critic. She is also a contributor to Screen Slate, and her writing has appeared in The New York Daily News, The Awl, Vice, and Gothamist, among other publications. Jeva lives in New York City. Follow her on Twitter.