MOSCOW: Russian authorities have arrested 11 persons, including four suspected gunmen, in connection with the tragic shooting rampage that killed 133 people at a concert hall near Moscow. The attack, which occurred at Crocus City Hall, has been declared the deadliest in Russia since the Beslan school siege in 2004.
The Kremlin confirmed the arrests, with FSB security service chief Alexander Bortnikov reporting to President Vladimir Putin that the detainees include “four terrorists.” Efforts are underway to identify any additional accomplices involved in the attack.
Investigators from the Russian Investigative Committee revealed that the death toll from the shooting and ensuing fire had risen to 133, up from the initial count of 115 fatalities. Search operations at the scene of the attack are ongoing as authorities work to clear the debris.
According to Russian lawmaker Alexander Khinshtein, the attackers fled the scene in a Renault vehicle and were later intercepted by police in the Bryansk region, approximately 340 km southwest of Moscow. Following a car chase, two suspects were apprehended, while two others fled into a nearby forest before being detained.
Khinshtein disclosed that a pistol, a magazine for an assault rifle, and passports were found in the vehicle. Meanwhile, the Islamic State (Daesh) has claimed responsibility for the attack, further intensifying concerns about terrorism in the region.
Islamic State Claims Responsibility for Moscow Attack
The Islamic State group said Saturday four of its militants carried out an attack on a concert hall in a Moscow suburb. “The attack was carried out by four IS fighters armed with machine guns, a pistol, knives and firebombs,” IS said on one of its Telegram channels.
The group said its fighters killed “dozens of Christians” as part of its “raging war” with countries it said were fighting Islam. The group had already said on Friday night they carried out the attack, and claimed their fighters had “returned to base safely”.
Eyewitness accounts of the harrowing ordeal described scenes of chaos and panic as gunfire erupted inside the concert hall, prompting a stampede as attendees rushed to escape. Verified video footage captured the frantic attempts of concertgoers to flee the venue amidst the sound of repeated gunfire and screams.
The devastating attack has sent shockwaves across Russia, prompting heightened security measures and renewed efforts to combat terrorism. As the investigation unfolds, authorities are committed to bringing all perpetrators to justice and ensuring the safety and security of the public.
