Russia Arrests Gunmen Responsible For Concert Attack As Death Toll Rises To 115

Russian authorities have arrested 11 people, including four gunmen, in connection with the attack on a Moscow concert hall, which has been attributed to the Islamic State.

On Friday night, armed assailants, clad in military attire, unleashed gunfire and explosives in a concert venue situated on the outskirts of Moscow.

The Islamic State claimed responsibility, stating its fighters targeted “a large gathering” near Moscow and safely retreated following the attack.

Russia’s Investigative Committee, which probes major crimes, confirmed in a statement on Saturday morning that the death toll has now risen to 115.

“The emergency services have found more bodies while removing the rubble. The death toll now stands at 115 people,” it said in a statement on Telegram.

The number of fatalities was likely to rise further, as the governor of the Moscow region said rescuers would continue to scour the site for “several days.”

Investigators said people died both from gunshot wounds and from smoke inhalation after a fire engulfed the 6,000-seater venue.

“The terrorists used a flammable liquid to set fire to the concert hall’s premises, where spectators were located, including wounded,” the Investigative Committee said.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has not yet publicly addressed the attack, and the Russian government has not officially responded to the Islamic State’s claim of responsibility.

However, some lawmakers have suggested a possible link to Ukraine.

The attack occurred at the Crocus City Hall in Moscow’s Krasnogorsk suburb during a concert by the Soviet-era rock band Piknik, marking it as the deadliest assault in Russia in at least a decade.

The Russian Federal Security Service (FSB) disclosed that some of the perpetrators had fled towards the Russia-Ukraine border, hinting at connections within Ukraine. However, specific details were not provided.

Certain Russian lawmakers also implicated Kyiv in the attack, though no evidence has been presented to support these claims. Ukrainian officials swiftly denied any involvement.

President Putin was briefed on the arrest of the 11 suspects by the head of the FSB, Alexander Bortnikov.

Meanwhile, the casualty count continues to rise, with over 100 people still hospitalized and recovery efforts ongoing at the scene.

Footage shared on social media depicted the chaotic scene as concert-goers attempted to flee while gunmen systematically carried out the assault.

This comes a few days after Vladimir Putin won another six-year term as the Russian president, setting the stage for him to become the longest-serving leader in over 200 years.