After the terrorist attack which caused the death of at least 90 people, Friday March 22, near Moscow, Russia, this Saturday March 23, the Kremlin announces the arrest of 11 people, including 4 alleged attackers.
After the terrorist attack that occurred in Moscow on Friday March 22 and claimed by the Islamist State organization on Telegram, the director of Russian security services, Alexander Bortnikov announced “the arrest of eleven people, including the four terrorists directly involved in the attack”, according to Russian news agencies, reports West France. On Telegram, the Russian investigative committee indicated in the evening that it had opened an investigation for a “terrorist act”.
A shooting followed by a fire
Several armed men burst into the Crocus City Hall concert hall, located near Moscow, in camouflage outfits, during a rock band’s performance on Friday March 22. According to a journalist on site, Friday evening, these individuals fired at the crowd before throwing a “grenade” or “fire bomb”, which caused a fire. Information confirmed by Russian news agencies, taken up by Le Figaro. Helicopters were mobilized until late at night to put out the flames. Public events planned in Moscow this weekend have all been canceled by the city’s mayor. Russian media released a first list of victims, including three children, aged 8 to 11.
At least 90 dead in “bloody attack”
Russian diplomacy denounced a “bloody terrorist attack” and the mayor of Moscow confirmed the death of several people. According to the latest report from Russian intelligence services, this Saturday March 23, the attack left at least 90 dead. The Moscow Region Health Ministry reports at least 145 injured. Franceinfo explains that Russia has already been the target of numerous attacks by Islamist groups in the past. At the beginning of March, Moscow announced that it had killed six suspected fighters from the Islamic State group in Ingushetia, a predominantly Muslim Caucasian republic.
International reactions multiplied in the evening. The White House sent its thoughts to the victims of the attack. The European Union said it was “shocked and dismayed”. One of its spokespersons, Peter Stano, published a message on the social network Russian citizens affected. The French Ministry of Foreign Affairs also reacted on social networks. “The images reaching us from Moscow are terrible. Our thoughts are with the victims and injured and with the Russian people. Full light must be shed on these heinous acts,” he wrote.