The death toll from a mass shooting at a concert hall on the outskirts of Moscow Friday evening has increased to at least 133 individuals, with another 145 reported injured. Rescuers concluded their search for victims late Saturday evening, as confirmed by the governor of the Moscow region.
Russian President Vladimir Putin, in his first televised address to the nation since the attacks, announced on Saturday afternoon that the Kremlin had apprehended all four assailants directly involved in the shooting, along with seven others suspected of having ties to the attack. The interior minister of Russia stated that all four suspected attackers are foreign citizens.
According to a U.S. official, the United States attributes responsibility for the attack to an Islamic State affiliate group known as Islamic State Khorasan Province, or ISIS-K, based in eastern Afghanistan. The group claimed responsibility for the attack on its Telegram channel late Friday. Additionally, U.S. intelligence officials disclosed that they had previously warned the Kremlin about a potential attack earlier this month based on intelligence information.
The intelligence prompted the U.S. Embassy to issue a security advisory to Americans residing in Russia and share the information with Russian authorities under its longstanding “duty to warn” policy. Despite this, in his remarks on Saturday, Putin made no mention of ISIS-K and instead accused Ukrainian authorities of attempting to aid the four assailants’ escape via Ukraine.
Russian investigators reported that the assailants were apprehended in the western Bryansk region, near the Ukrainian border. Ukrainian officials refuted any involvement, with the country’s foreign ministry accusing Russian authorities of exploiting the deadly assault to garner support for the Kremlin’s war in Ukraine.
The attack unfolded late Friday when camouflaged gunmen carrying automatic assault rifles stormed the Crocus City Hall, a large shopping and entertainment center on the western outskirts of Moscow, where concertgoers had gathered to watch the veteran Russian rock band Piknik.
Video footage captured the assailants firing at bystanders as they sought refuge or fled for emergency exits. Some witnesses claimed to have seen the assailants douse the concert hall’s seating and curtains with a liquid before setting them ablaze. Additional footage released by Russian authorities depicted the charred seating and debris inside the venue.
NPR’s Charles Maynes interviewed individuals who were present at the venue during the attack. Another venue employee, Josef, who declined to provide a last name for security reasons, expressed his shock over the events of Friday night.
In response to the tragedy, Putin declared Sunday a national day of mourning in Russia. Spontaneous memorials with flowers, toys, and candles have emerged across the country to honor the victims. Moreover, the local health ministry reported that over 2,700 individuals donated blood in the Moscow region on Saturday to aid the injured.
