Five armed gunmen opened fire and detonated explosives at people inside the a packed Crocus City Hall in Moscow on March 22. The attack has deeply hurt Russian President Vladimir Putin, Kremlin revealed.
Moscow Concert Hall Attack: The deadly terrorist attack on Moscow’s Crocus City Hall which left over 130 people dead and around 550 injured, has deeply hurt Russian President Vladimir Putin, a Kremlin spokesperson has said, adding that even though, he puts up a tough exterior to the world, the Russian Premier is deeply disturbed by recent events in the country.
“The head of state takes these tragedies to heart. And believe me, just because you don’t see tears on his face does not mean that he is not hurt. And I doubt if anyone, including you and me, knows about his inner turmoil,” Kremlin Spokesman Dmitry Peskov told VGTRK, according to TASS.
Moscow terror attack toll mounts to 134, 551 injured
Meanwhile, the death toll in the March 22 Crocus City Hall terrorist attack has surged to 134, the press office of the Russian Investigative Committee confirmed to the TASS.
“The investigators are diligently working with the victims, gathering information about the circumstances surrounding this atrocious crime. Presently, we have been able to ascertain the identities of 134 individuals who perished in this terror attack. Genetic testing is underway for the remaining bodies yet to be identified,” the committee stated.
“Operating tirelessly, investigators, forensic specialists, and experts are working around the clock. Investigations are ongoing both at the crime scene and with the apprehended suspects,” it added.
Furthermore, the Russian Emergencies Ministry’s department in the Moscow Region has updated the count of those injured in the deadly terrorist onslaught to 551.
“At the time of 6:00 a.m. Moscow time on March 30, 2024, the toll from the terrorist attack stood at 695 casualties, with 144 fatalities, including five children,” the ministry disclosed in an official statement.
Health officials informed TASS that the majority of those injured in the attack have been receiving outpatient care.
Crocus City Hall attack
Five armed gunmen opened fire and detonated explosives at people inside the a packed Crocus City Hall in Moscow on March 22. The concert hall, which has a maximum capacity of 7,50o, was almost full with people who had gathered there to witness the performance by a music band.
The brazen attack at the music venue Krasnogorsk, Moscow Region, just beyond the city borders, left at least 144 dead, according to latest official figures.
Law enforcement has apprehended all four assailants, with suspicions of assistance from five others, as per investigators. The Russian Investigative Committee asserted that the attackers have ties to Ukrainian nationalists.
Russia observes Day of Mourning
Last Sunday, Russia declared its first nationwide mourning since 2018 as a solemn minute of silence was observed in memory of the victims of the Crocus City Hall attack before the commencement of a charity concert near the makeshift memorial erected at the scene of the attack.
Candles, arranged to resemble cranes, adorned the stage; many attendees held candles in their hands. During the minute of silence, footage depicting cranes soaring into the sky was projected onto the facade of Crocus City Hall, followed by images of those who lost their lives in the tragedy.
The minute of silence commenced at 19:52 Moscow time, approximately the time when the tragic events unfolded on March 22. Following the poignant tribute, a musical ensemble led by director Valery Gergiyev took the stage.
Several survivors also joined the performance, sharing their harrowing experiences of surviving the attack.
Throughout the day, people continued to bring flowers in honour of the victims. Security measures were heightened, with the crowd being divided into multiple streams, and metal detectors were installed to ensure safety, TASS reported.