Moscow: The death toll has exceeded 150 and more than 200 people have been injured in the deadliest terrorist attack in two decades on Friday night during a music festival at the Crocus City Hall near the Russian capital Moscow. Islamic State Khorasan Province, which claimed responsibility for the attack, said it killed a large number of Christians in a hall outside Moscow. Security agencies have arrested 11 terrorists including four attackers. Apart from this, many suspects have been detained. Russian President Vladimir Putin has accused Ukraine of involvement in the attack and declared national mourning on Sunday. The US also claimed that it had warned Russia of the attack, but it ignored it.
Russian band Picnic had a concert at the 16,000-capacity Crocus City Hall near Moscow on Friday night. More than 6200 people were present in the hall to watch the program. While the event was going on, four Islamic State-Khorasan (IS) attackers in Russian military fatigues fired indiscriminately at the audience with automatic guns and detonated explosives, causing a fire in the hall. The death toll in this attack is continuously increasing.
The attack comes just days after Vladimir Putin consolidated his grip on power for a fifth term as Russia's head of state. After the attack, Russian agencies and many leaders claimed that the strings of this attack were linked to Ukraine. However, Islamic State-Khorasan claimed responsibility for the attack in a telegram, saying it had killed a crowd of Christians during an event near Moscow. The attackers entered the Crocus City Hall in Russian military uniforms, giving the impression that the attack was carried out by soldiers tired of the war with Ukraine. The terrorists first fired on the crowd and then threw bombs. Islamic State Khorasan claimed that it had been planning an attack on Russia for two years, in which it finally succeeded on Friday.
Russian security agencies have arrested 11 terrorists including four attackers. Security agencies have also released a video of a terrorist, in which he is seen saying that he was promised a compensation of 5,00,000 rubles (about Rs 4.52 lakh) for the attack. I killed people in Crocus City Hall for money. Half the money was transferred to my card and the rest was to be paid later. However, while trying to avoid the security officials, my card fell somewhere. The Russian Investigative Committee said the four attackers were arrested in the Bronsk region of western Russia. He was planning to flee to Ukraine after the attack. Ukraine is suspected to be behind this attack. Several videos of the attack went viral on social media, in which flames can be seen coming out of the building and rising towards the sky. In the video, several fire engines, ambulances and other emergency vehicles are seen reaching the spot after the attack. Sources said that relief and rescue teams rescued more than 100 people from the building.
The attack took place a week after Putin became president for the fifth time.
Terrorists were trying to flee Ukraine after the attack: Putin
– Nothing to do with the attack: Ukraine's defense informed about the attack: US claims
Russian President Vladimir Putin addressed the nation on Saturday after the Islamic State-Khorasan terrorist attack on Friday night at the Crocus City Hall near Moscow and said that those behind the attack will not be spared. Putin also hinted at Ukraine's involvement in the attack.
A week after Putin seized power in Russia for a fifth consecutive term, the deadliest terrorist attack in two decades occurred at the Crocus City Hall near Moscow. President Putin condemned the attack and declared national mourning on Sunday. He said that many innocent people have become victims of the terrorist attack at the Crocus City Hall. I am sure that the doctors at Crocus City Hall will make every possible effort to save the victims of the terrorist attack. We will not spare whoever is behind this attack. They will be given severe punishment. According to our initial information, the attackers were planning to flee to Ukraine, but they have already been arrested. There is also suspicion of Ukraine's involvement in the attack. The attackers were in contact with some people in Ukraine.
However, Mykhailo Podolyak, an adviser to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, denied any involvement. He said that Ukraine has never used terrorist methods. In this war everything will happen on the field. American intelligence officials also claimed that they had warned Russia before the attack. But he did not pay attention to it. America has also held Islamic State responsible for this attack. An American intelligence official said, “We received input about the attack in Moscow a few days ago, which we passed on to Russian authorities. However, Russian President Putin considered this US warning an attempt to intimidate him. This news has spread anger towards Putin among Russians.
Also angry with Russia's support to President Bashar in Syria
Extremely fanatical ISIS Khorasan is staunch enemy of Russia
Islamic State-Khoras has claimed responsibility for the worst terrorist attack in Russia in 20 years. Earlier this terrorist organization had focused on Syria and the Middle East, now it has also targeted Russia. This terrorist organization is eager to create the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (Caliphate). The Khorasan unit of the Islamic State extends to Afghanistan, Tajikistan in Central Asia, Uzbekistan and the mountainous regions of north-eastern Iran. Islamic State Khorasan has become a staunch enemy of Russia due to Russia's support for President Bashar's regime in Syria. Russia has sent its troops to Syria to support the regime of President Bashar. For this reason, IS-Khorasan has focused its attention on Russia for the last two years. Apart from this, according to this terrorist organization, Russia oppresses Muslims. Russia is a Christian country. This is why after the Crocus City Hall attack, the Islamic State claimed responsibility for the attack, saying that it had attacked a crowd of Christians.