nAccording to Russian information, 11 people have so far been arrested following the attack on the concert hall near Moscow. Among them are four people suspected of direct involvement in the attack, Interfax news agency reported, citing the Kremlin. They are in the process of identifying additional partners. President Vladimir Putin was informed of the arrests by the FSB domestic intelligence service.
According to Russian information, four of the suspected perpetrators of the attack were in contact with the Ukrainian side. They were on their way to the Ukrainian border when they were arrested early Saturday morning, Interfax news agency reported, citing the Russian domestic intelligence service (FSB). The attack was carefully planned. Ukrainian President's advisor Mykhailo Podolia said shortly after Friday's attack that Kiev had nothing to do with it.
Among the dead were three children
According to the authorities, the number of deaths rose to 115 on Saturday morning, and Russian state media even reported 143 at midday, and RT editor-in-chief Margarita Simonyan gave this number on the Telegram short messaging service without citing a source.
When clearing the rubble in the center's concert hall, emergency services found more bodies, the Moscow Investigative Committee said on Telegram. Not long ago, there was talk of at least 93. The number is expected to rise further. According to Russian agencies, the number had previously risen to “more than 60.” The agencies quoted the Russian Investigative Committee as saying on Saturday, “Unfortunately, the number of victims may rise.” A previous report by the Russian Federal Security Service reported that 40 people were killed. The victims also included three children. This was reported by RIA News Agency, citing the Ministry of Health.
According to preliminary results, more than 100 people were infected at the Crocus City Hall event hall in the city of Krasnogorsk on the western edge of Modkau, Interfax reported on Friday evening, citing the Federal Security Service. The Russian Central Investigative Committee opened a case related to a suspected „terrorist act”. The Authority announced this via the Telegram platform. The jihadist militia affiliated with the Islamic State claimed responsibility for the attack via the Telegram application. But the Russian authorities have not yet commented on this matter.
According to authorities, in addition to gunfire and fire, explosions were also reported in the event hall. The Russian Prosecutor General's Office said that unidentified assailants wearing camouflage clothing stormed Crocus City Hall shortly before the start of a concert and opened fire.
The background of the accident was initially unclear. According to Russian media, the victims are employees and visitors of the concert hall. The concert of the famous rock band „Picnic” was supposed to be held there in the evening. The musicians were not injured in the attack. He stressed that there is currently no telephone contact with the technical staff. Picnik's history dates back to Soviet times. The band still has many fans in Russia.
An eyewitness told Reuters news agency that the attackers used assault rifles. Unverified footage online also shows men carrying assault rifles repeatedly opening fire on civilians.
“They're shooting. They're shooting with machine guns. Some people are shooting,” an excited man's voice can be heard in a shaky video circulating on social media. The shots don't stop, echoing loudly in the large hall.
People scream in fear and run for their lives. “Fuck, fuck, fuck,” a man shouts in a recording that shows concertgoers running toward the exit in droves. A dead body lies in a pool of blood next to an escalator.
Burning flames and a huge cloud of smoke were seen in the famous building. The roof is said to have collapsed. The situation is confusing. According to the authorities, dozens of ambulances and several buses were deployed to transport people to safety. There are thousands of seats in the halls.
Putin reported the attack
Western embassies recently warned of terrorist attacks in Moscow. But the Kremlin described this as a provocation from the West.
According to the Kremlin, the Russian president was informed of the suspected terrorist attack near Moscow „from the first minute.” Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Friday evening, according to the Russian Interfax news agency, that Putin constantly receives all important information about what is happening and the actions taken through the relevant agencies.
The official TASS news agency quoted Deputy Prime Minister Tatiana Golikova as saying that Putin wishes a speedy recovery to those injured in the attack. A detailed statement was not issued by the Russian governor as of Saturday morning.
According to the authorities, all theaters and museums in the capital will remain closed on the weekend. World-famous museums such as the Tretyakov Gallery and the Pushkin Museum, as well as major theaters, announced on Friday evening that they would remain closed on Saturday and Sunday. Theatrical performances have been cancelled.
Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin had previously said that all major events in Europe's largest city had been cancelled. The authorities also canceled mass events in the Moscow region.
The Chairman of the Federation Council threatens retaliation
The Speaker of the Federation Council, the upper chamber of the Russian Parliament, Valentina Matvienko, threatened the planners of the attack with revenge. She wrote on her Telegram channel on Friday evening: “Those behind this terrible crime will receive the deserved and inevitable punishment.” At the same time, she announced that the state would do everything in its power to help those left behind. The government also announced assistance.
In 2002, Chechen militants seized 850 people at a music venue. On the fourth day of the drama, local intelligence surprised the kidnappers and hostages with gas. The terrorists were shot. 135 hostages died, most of them due to inadequate medical care.