Russia has apprehended 11 individuals, including four suspected gunmen, following a tragic shooting spree that left 93 dead in a concert hall near Moscow.
The Kremlin announced the arrests on Saturday, stating that the FSB security service, led by Alexander Bortnikov, had classified the detainees as “four terrorists” and was actively pursuing leads to identify any potential collaborators.
According to Russia’s Investigative Committee, the death toll surged to 93 from the assault, during which assailants clad in camouflage attire opened fire with automatic firearms on concert attendees near the capital on Friday.
Lawmaker Alexander Khinshtein revealed that the attackers escaped in a Renault vehicle, later spotted by authorities in the Bryansk region, approximately 340 km (210 miles) southwest of Moscow.
Despite police orders to halt, two suspects were apprehended after a pursuit, while two others fled into nearby woodland. Subsequently, these individuals were also taken into custody.
A firearm, an assault rifle magazine, and Tajikistani passports were recovered from the abandoned vehicle. Tajikistan, a predominantly Muslim nation in Central Asia, was once part of the Soviet Union.
The Islamic State has asserted responsibility for the assault, marking it as the most deadly incident in Russia since the Beslan school siege in 2004.
The tragic incident unfolded on Friday evening at Crocus City Hall, a concert venue just west of Moscow, where a rock band from the Soviet era was scheduled to perform. Verified video footage depicted attendees initially seated before chaos ensued, with frantic attempts to flee as gunfire erupted.
Additional footage captured armed men targeting groups of individuals, with some victims seen lying motionless amidst pools of blood.
Eyewitnesses described the sudden eruption of gunfire, prompting a stampede as panicked attendees rushed for safety. The scene was characterized by screams and chaos as concertgoers desperately sought to escape the unfolding violence.
