A horrific attack at a popular concert venue near Moscow has left the city reeling, with 137 people dead in the deadliest act of terrorism in the Russian capital in more than a decade. The attack, which took place on Friday, was claimed by a branch of the Islamic State known as ISIS-K, but Russian officials have pointed fingers at Ukraine, despite denials from Kyiv and American officials.
The gunmen stormed the Crocus City Hall building, a massive entertainment complex with a capacity of over 6,000, just before a rock concert was set to begin. Armed with automatic rifles, they opened fire and set the building ablaze with explosives and flammable liquids, causing chaos as attendees tried to flee. The fire quickly spread, engulfing a large portion of the building and leading to numerous casualties from gunshot wounds and smoke inhalation.
Russian authorities have detained 11 people in connection to the attack, including the four main suspects who were directly involved. However, the assailants themselves have not been identified, and their motives remain unclear. The search for survivors has ended, with over 100 people injured and many in critical condition.
President Vladimir Putin, who only addressed the tragedy on Saturday afternoon, hinted at blaming Ukraine for the attack but stopped short of assigning definitive blame. The attack has shattered the sense of security in Moscow, prompting a national day of mourning on Sunday as the country grapples with the aftermath of the devastating event. Flags were lowered to half-staff as questions linger about the identities and motives of the perpetrators.
