Moscow: Chaos erupted at Crocus City Hall as four armed assailants unleashed a barrage of gunfire on unsuspecting concertgoers, plunging the venue into a nightmarish scene of fear and death.
Natalya, a witness who narrowly escaped the onslaught, described the harrowing moment when the gunfire erupted from behind, sending panicked crowds scrambling for safety. “It was loud, like a firecracker blast, fireworks, but like an automatic burst,” she recounted, her voice still trembling with shock. “Everyone was screaming; everyone was running. I experienced terrible emotions. It is simply a nightmare.”
With over 143 lives lost and numerous others injured, this attack stands as Russia’s deadliest since the 2004 Beslan school siege, claimed by the Islamic State. The Federal Security Service (FSB) reported the detention of 11 individuals, including the alleged attackers, in the Bryansk region as they attempted to flee to Ukraine, a claim refuted by Kyiv.
Read More: Myanmar’s Next Electoral Path Uncertain, Junta Chief Asserts
Clad in camouflage and armed with combat gear, the assailants stormed the concert hall, firing indiscriminately at the entrance and within the premises. Witnesses recounted the horror of bodies strewn across marble floors, shattered glass, and the deafening sound of gunfire echoing through the venue.
Amidst the chaos, acts of heroism emerged as some attendees fought to secure exits and aid others in their escape. Anastasia Rodionova vividly recalled the panic-stricken moments when gunfire erupted and the urgent plea to avoid lying down to evade immediate danger.
Read More: Embracing the Vibrancy of Holi: A Celebration of Renewal and Joy
As the assailants set fire to the building, concertgoers faced a dual threat of gunfire and flames, with some resorting to desperate measures to flee the inferno. Witnesses described scenes of agony and desperation as families perished together, their lives cut short in a senseless act of violence.
In the aftermath, the once-vibrant concert hall lay in ruins, its charred remnants bearing witness to the devastating toll of the attack. Amidst the rubble, tales of survival and loss underscored the indelible scars left by this tragic event.
