Despite an ISIL affiliate claiming responsibility, Russia’s Federal Security Service (FSB) attempts to connect Ukraine to the assault.
Russian authorities have apprehended 11 individuals in relation to a horrific attack that occurred in a crowded concert hall near Moscow, as the death toll has risen to 133, with over 100 individuals sustaining injuries.
On Saturday, Russia’s Investigative Committee reported the discovery of additional bodies within the Crocus City Hall located in Moscow’s northern suburb of Krasnogorsk.
Governor of the Moscow region, Andrei Vorobyov, who visited the venue on Saturday, stated, “As for the dead, I must say right away that the number of victims will grow significantly.”
Gunmen clad in combat fatigues unleashed gunfire from automatic weapons at the venue on Friday while concertgoers were gearing up to watch a performance by Picnic, a renowned Soviet-era rock band.
An affiliate of ISIL (ISIS), Islamic State Khorasan Province that has been active in Afghanistan and Iran, claimed responsibility for the assault.
The authorities have not yet officially attributed responsibility for the deadliest attack in Russia in at least a decade. It’s worth noting that in 2004, over 330 individuals, half of whom were children, tragically lost their lives in the Beslan school siege.
ISIS-K, which previously targeted the Russian embassy in Kabul, claimed that its fighters attacked “a large gathering” on Moscow’s outskirts and “retreated to their bases safely”.
In a televised address to the Russian people on Saturday, President Vladimir Putin condemned the attack as a “barbaric terrorist act.” He assured that all assailants had been apprehended and pledged that those responsible would face severe consequences. Additionally, he announced Sunday as a national day of mourning.
Alexander Bortnikov, the head of the Federal Security Service (FSB), briefed Putin that among those detained early on Saturday were four gunmen, and investigations were underway to identify their accomplices. The Russian Interior Ministry confirmed that all four individuals were foreign citizens.
The investigative committee disclosed that victims succumbed to gunshot wounds and smoke inhalation as a fire swept through the 6,000-seat venue.
“The terrorists utilized a flammable liquid to ignite the premises of the concert hall, where spectators, including wounded individuals, were present,” stated the investigative committee.
As of Saturday morning, the Russia Emergency Situations Ministry reported that 107 individuals remained hospitalized.
Verified video footage depicted individuals initially taking their seats inside the hall, followed by frantic rushes towards the exits amidst the backdrop of repeated gunfire and screams. Additional clips captured armed individuals firing upon groups of people, with some victims lying motionless in pools of blood.
Describing the chaos, one witness recounted to Reuters news agency, “Suddenly there were bangs behind us – shots. A burst of firing – I do not know what… A stampede began. Everyone ran to the escalator… Everyone was screaming; everyone was running.”
Russian authorities responded by tightening security measures at Moscow’s airports, railway stations, and metro system. The mayor canceled all mass gatherings, while theaters and museums in the area, housing over 12 million residents, were instructed to close for the weekend. Enhanced security protocols were also implemented in other regions across Russia.
According to Russian politician Alexander Khinshtein, the assailants fled in a Renault vehicle, which was later identified by police in the Bryansk region, approximately 340 kilometers (210 miles) southwest of Moscow on Friday night. Despite police intervention, two individuals were apprehended following a car chase, while two others evaded capture by fleeing into a nearby forest. Subsequently, they were also detained, as per accounts from the Kremlin.
Khinshtein further revealed that a pistol, an assault rifle magazine, and passports from Tajikistan, a former Soviet republic in Central Asia, were discovered in the vehicle.
ISIL posted a photo on one of its Telegram channels on Saturday claiming to show the four men who launched the attack. The group said the attack was part of ISIL’s “raging war” on countries fighting Islam.
Russian authorities have called it a “terrorist attack”, but have not commented on ISIL’s claim of responsibility.
Murat Aslan, a retired Turkish army colonel and military analyst said that ISIS-K has aims that span globally, not just in Central Asia.
“Previously, they were in Iran. Now they are in Moscow,” Aslan said. “We will likely see more attacks in other capitals.”
