Eyewitnesses vividly recounted the harrowing ordeal that took place at a concert hall in suburban Moscow, where a brutal attack claimed the lives of over 60 individuals and left more than 100 wounded, on the night of Friday.
Describing the chilling moments before the start of the Piknik concert, one witness, identified only as Alexei, recounted the sudden eruption of automatic gunfire. “I realised right away that it was automatic gunfire and understood that most likely it’s the worst: a terrorist attack,” he said.
According to reports from journalists at the scene, the assailants, clad in camouflage uniforms, stormed into the building, unleashing a barrage of gunfire and hurling grenades or incendiary devices.
The aftermath was chaotic and terrifying. Witnesses spoke of a stampede as panic gripped the crowd. “Suddenly there were bangs behind us – shots. A burst of firing – I do not know what,” one witness recounted. “A stampede began. Everyone ran to the escalator. Everyone was screaming; everyone was running.”
The concert venue, Crocus City Hall, was engulfed in chaos and flames. Videos circulated on social media depicted billowing smoke and raging fires consuming the building.
In the wake of the tragedy, ISIS (Islamic State of Iraq and Syria) claimed responsibility for the heinous act. However, the group provided no evidence to substantiate their claim. In their statement, ISIS asserted that the attack targeted a large gathering of “Christians” in Krasnogorsk on the outskirts of Moscow.
Russian authorities swiftly launched a manhunt for the perpetrators and initiated a terrorism investigation. Security measures were heightened across the capital, with tightened surveillance at airports, transport hubs, and public venues. Large-scale events were promptly cancelled nationwide in response to the attack.
The assault, which left the concert hall ablaze with a portion of its roof collapsed, marked one of the deadliest incidents in Russia in recent years. The tragedy unfolded against the backdrop of ongoing tensions, including Russia’s protracted involvement in the conflict in Ukraine, which has entered its third year.
