Moscow Terror Attack: Four Suspects Who Carried Out Theatre Raid Among 11 Held, Toll Climbs To 115

The head of the Russian security service FSB informed Russian President Vladimir Putin on Saturday that it detained 11 people, including all four terrorists directly involved in carrying out the attack, Russian news agencies said. The Russian FSB also claimed that the concert hall attackers ‘had contacts’ in Ukraine and used “flammable liquid” after they went on a shooting rampage to set fire to the building.

Two out of the four terrorists who opened fire at concert goers in a Moscow concert hall killing at least 115 and injuring more than 120 on Friday late evening were first detained near Bryansk, according to a report by BNO News.

Earlier, Russia media said a group of four to six terrorists fled in a white car after carrying out the daring attack.

News agency Liveuamap shared a photo of a white car, made by Renault and objects strewn around the car and photos of weapons seized.

Russian agencies later said that the death toll rose from 60 to 115. “At the moment, it has been established that 115 people are dead. The death toll is expected to rise,” Russia’s Investigative Committee which probes major crimes said Saturday.

The detained gunmen opened fire at a Moscow concert hall killing more than 115 people and wounded over 100 while sparking a major fire, authorities said Saturday, with the Islamic State’s Khorasan branch claiming responsibility.

The terrorists were dressed in camouflage uniforms when they entered the building on Friday, opened fire and threw a grenade or incendiary bomb, according to a journalist for the RIA Novosti news agency at the scene.

World Leaders React

World leaders denounced the deadly attack with Russia’s detractors also sending a condolence messages and showing solidarity with those impacted. The UK foreign minister David Cameron took to social media site X where he said the UK condemns “in the strongest terms the deadly terrorist attack at the Crocus City Hall near Moscow”.

“We offer our heartfelt condolences and express our deepest sympathy to the families of the many victims. Nothing can ever justify such horrific violence,” Cameron said.

Russia’s ally India and China also send messages of solidarity with the nation. PM Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping strongly condemned the attack and sent their condolences to Russian President Putin.

The White House sent its condolences to the victims of the “terrible” shooting, saying it was trying to get more information.

“Our thoughts are with the victims of this terrible shooting attack,” National Security Council spokesman John Kirby told reporters. “The images are just horrible and just hard to watch.”

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz on Saturday condemned “the terrible terrorist attack against innocent spectators at a concert in Moscow” that left more than 90 people dead.

“Our thoughts are with the victims’ families and all those wounded,” Scholz added on X about the Friday attack claimed by the Islamic State group.

France, Israel, Palestinian Authority, the EU and the UN also condemned the attack.