Russia, 93 Dead in Moscow Concert Hall Terror Attack... 11 Arrested (Comprehensive)

Suspects involved in indiscriminate shooting and arson terror attacks at a concert hall in Moscow, Russia, have been arrested, according to TASS, Sputnik News Agency, and others on the 23rd (local time). The death toll from the incident has risen to nearly 100.

According to reports, on this day, the Russian Federal Security Service (FSB) arrested a total of 11 individuals related to the incident, including four key suspects who indiscriminately fired automatic rifles at the 'Crocus City Hall' concert hall in Krasnogorsk, northwest Moscow, the previous day, causing over 200 casualties. The FSB reported this to Russian President Vladimir Putin and is continuing the investigation to identify additional accomplices.

On the 22nd (local time), flames are rising at a large concert hall on the outskirts of Moscow, Russia, where a indiscriminate shooting incident occurred.
[Photo by Yonhap News]

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The investigative committee formed by Russian authorities explained that all four key suspects were apprehended in the Bryansk region, about 300 km southwest of Moscow.

The FSB claimed, "The suspects fled by car after the crime and attempted to cross the Russia-Ukraine border," adding, "They had contact with the Ukrainian side." Bryansk is close to the Ukrainian border.

In this regard, according to Alexander Khinshtein, chairman of the Russian State Duma's intelligence committee, authorities arrested two suspects after a police chase early this morning in the southeastern Bryansk region, where a Renault passenger car ignored police orders to stop and fled.

One suspect was caught at the scene after the pursued vehicle overturned, and the other was captured around 3:50 a.m. following a search of the nearby area. A shootout occurred between the police and the suspects during this process. Khinshtein mentioned that a Makarov pistol, magazines for an AKM assault rifle (a modified version of the AK-47), and a Tajikistan passport were found in the vehicle.

However, the Tajikistan Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated that it has not received any notification from Russian authorities regarding the involvement of its nationals in this incident.

The investigative committee formed by Russian authorities announced this morning that 93 people have died so far due to the terror attack, and the death toll may rise further. Among the deceased are at least three children.

A Russian intelligence official confirmed that the United States had warned about the risk of a terror attack in Moscow about two weeks before the incident but noted, according to Sputnik, that "there was no detailed information."

Nikolai Patrushev, Secretary of the Russian Security Council and considered a close aide to President Putin, said, "This attack shows that terrorism is a serious threat to Russia," adding, "Those responsible for mass murder will not escape punishment."

On the evening of the 22nd, at least three armed assailants entered the 'Crocus City Hall' concert hall in Krasnogorsk, Moscow, armed with automatic rifles, and carried out indiscriminate shooting. The terrorists reportedly poured flammable liquid and set fire to the concert hall building after the shooting. Initially, about 40 people were reported dead, but the number of fatalities continues to rise due to many critically injured victims.

The Islamic extremist armed group Islamic State (IS) claimed responsibility for the terror attack. The Islamic State Khorasan Province (ISIS-K), IS's branch in Afghanistan, stated that "(IS fighters) killed or murdered hundreds and severely destroyed the location before safely withdrawing to their base."

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