Death Toll Rises To 150 In Russia Concert Hall Attack, 11 Gunmen Arrested: What We Know So Far

Russia said it arrested 11 people Saturday along with the four gunmen for shooting at concert goers at a Moscow concert hall as the death toll rose to 150.

The attack on the Crocus City Hall in Moscow’s northern suburb of Krasnogorsk on Friday was claimed by Islamic State affiliate Islamic State – Khorasan Province (ISIS-K) but Russian security service has claimed that the attackers had links to Ukraine and were leaving for the neighbouring country with which Russia has been in a conflict for the past two years.

Russia’s FSB security service said some of the perpetrators had fled towards the Russia-Ukraine border, adding that the assailants had “appropriate contacts” in the country, according to a statement cited by state-run news agencies.

Meanwhile, the US said that the claim by ISIS-K is credible and believes that Ukraine was not responsible for the attacks. The US embassy had said two weeks before the attack that there was a risk of “extremists” targeting mass gatherings in Moscow, including concerts.

Russian Telegram channels, including Baza which is close to the security services, and a lawmaker said some of the suspects were from the central Asian nation of Tajikistan.

In a statement, Tajikistan’s foreign affairs ministry said it had not received any information from Moscow about the involvement of its citizens.

The terrorists were wearing camouflaged clothing when they entered the packed concert hall where they were looking forward to attending a concert by Soviet-era rock band Piknik but concert goers became witness to the deadliest attack in Russia for at least a decade.

Russian President Vladimir Putin was informed of the arrests. Authorities have warned that the number of fatalities was set to keep rising and over 100 are still hospitalised.

The Kremlin said the head of the FSB security service had informed President Vladimir Putin about the arrests, while authorities warned the number of fatalities was set to keep rising, with more than 100 still hospitalised.

“FSB Director Alexander Bortnikov reported to the president on the detention of 11 people, including four terrorists involved in the terrorist attack at Crocus City Hall,” it said.

The Kremlin said he was being kept constantly informed and a government official said he had wished a speedy recovery to the victims.

Russian authorities said that people died both from gunshot wounds and from smoke inhalation after a fire engulfed the 6,000-seater venue.

“The terrorists used a flammable liquid to set fire to the concert hall’s premises, where spectators were located, including wounded,” the Investigative Committee said.

The fire had quickly spread through the venue on Friday after reports of the mass shooting, with screaming concert-goers rushing to emergency exits. The roof of the concert hall also collapsed due to the fire.

Global Condemnation

World leaders Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Chinese President Xi Jinping, French President Emmanuel Macron, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz as well as the EU, UK foreign minister David Cameron, UN Chief António Guterres, Israeli government and the Palestinian authority have condemned the attacks.

Through posts on social media and statements released by official channels, they condemned the attack and wished for speedy recovery of those injured.

“We strongly condemn the heinous terrorist attack in Moscow. Our thoughts and prayers are with the families of the victims. India stands in solidarity with the government and the people of the Russian Federation in this hour of grief,” PM Modi said in a post on social media site X.

Denouncing the terrorist attack in Moscow, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken shared a message on X, stating, “The United States strongly condemns the March 22 terrorist attack in Moscow. We stand in solidarity with the people of Russia in grieving the loss of life after this horrific event.”

Concert Inferno

People inside the concert hall said they first heard rounds of machine gun fire, then piercing screams of panic and then the Crocus City Hall went up in flames.

Hundreds of fans had been at the hall in the Krasnogorsk suburb north of Moscow for the concert. But just minutes before the music was due to start armed individuals entered the theatre and opened fire.

“It was just before the start. We heard several rounds of machine gun fire and then there was a horrible scream from a woman. Then there were a lot of screams. There were three or four bursts, and then some more,” Alexei, a music producer, told news agency AFP.

Some filmed the gunmen from the upper floors as they appeared to methodically walk through the stalls shooting people, footage shared on social media showed.

The gunmen also used a flammable liquid to set fire to the building, as per Russia’s Investigative Committee. It took rescuers several hours to put out the fire, which ultimately led to the collapse of the concert hall’s roof.

Moscow governor Andrei Vorobyov said that it will take “several days” for rescuers to search through all the rubble of the attacked concert hall in Moscow. More bodies have been discovered recently.

“Rescuers are working non-stop at the tragedy site… the operation will carry on for at least several more days,” Vorobyov stated in a message on Telegram.

In Moscow, residents formed long queues in the Saturday morning rain to donate blood, according to videos posted by state media outlets.

Memorial posters featuring a single candle replaced advertising billboards at some Moscow bus stops, the RIA Novosti state agency reported.

Major events were cancelled across the country, including a friendly football match between Russia and Paraguay set to take place in Moscow on Monday.