Moscow Airport Horror: A 2-year-old Iranian boy is in a coma after being violently slammed headfirst onto the floor by a man at Moscow’s Sheremetyevo Airport. The child, who had just arrived in Russia with his pregnant mother after fleeing conflict in Iran, suffered severe skull fractures and spinal injuries and is currently fighting for his life in a hospital.

The attacker has been identified as 31-year-old Vladimir Vitkov from Belarus. CCTV footage shows Vitkov wandering through the airport’s arrivals hall before suddenly grabbing the child and throwing him forcefully onto the ground. The child’s mother was reportedly only a few meters away, collecting his pushchair, when the assault occurred.

Eyewitnesses quickly intervened and subdued Vitkov until police arrived. He was arrested on the scene and is now being investigated for attempted murder.

Drug Intoxication Suspected

According to Russian media reports, Vitkov had arrived in Moscow earlier that day, having flown from either Cyprus or Egypt. Authorities suspect he was under the influence of drugs at the time of the attack. The Russian Investigative Committee confirmed that traces of cannabis were found in his system, and additional narcotics were discovered on his person during a search.

Ksenia Mishonova, Moscow Region’s Children's Ombudswoman, expressed her outrage, stating, “A drug-addled monster grabbed a toddler in the arrivals hall and threw him on the floor with all his might. All this is incredibly difficult to bear.” She called for Vitkov to face the full force of the law and wished the child a full recovery.

In a statement, the Investigative Committee said: “A man, while in the airport arrivals area in a state of drug intoxication, grabbed a child and, lifting him, threw him to the floor with considerable force. The boy was hospitalised in a medical facility for assistance. The man's criminal actions were stopped by eyewitnesses.”

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Vitkov has admitted to prior legal issues, vaguely telling authorities, “I made mistakes like that.” He remains in custody as the investigation continues. The assault took place shortly before midnight in Sheremetyevo’s busy departure lounge, one of Russia’s largest and busiest international terminals, which processes over 40 million passengers annually. The Iranian boy’s condition remains critical.