A tragic incident at a Russian airport has left an 18-month-old boy in a coma after he was violently assaulted by a newly arrived foreign national.
Surveillance footage from the terminal shows the suspect surveying his surroundings before approaching the child, who was standing alone beside a small suitcase. The footage then captures the moment the man lifted the toddler and slammed him to the ground with extreme force.
A witness quickly intervened, rushing to assist the critically injured child.
Reports indicate that the child’s pregnant mother had stepped away briefly to retrieve a pushchair following their arrival. She and her son had recently fled Iran, reportedly traveling through Afghanistan, before reaching Russia in search of safety.
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Authorities have identified the alleged assailant as Vladimir Vitkov, a 31-year-old Belarusian national who had also just entered the country. Investigators are currently examining whether the attack was racially motivated or driven by another form of bias.
The boy remains in critical condition as medical teams fight to save his life.
