Moscow Terror Attack: ISIS Claims Responsibility, Leaves 70 Dead
70 Killed in Terrorist Attack in Moscow’s Krokus City
A terrorist attack in Moscow’s Krokus City has claimed the lives of 70 people, with the possibility of the death toll increasing. More than 100 people have been injured.
The attack took place on Friday evening (March 22). The terrorist organization ISIS has claimed responsibility. Five terrorists in army uniforms indiscriminately fired shots and threw bombs. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has expressed grief over the incident. He stated, “We condemn the terrorist attack in Moscow. Our thoughts are with the affected families. In this moment of sorrow, India stands united with the Russian government and people.”
ISIS, or the Islamic State, is designated as a terrorist organization by numerous countries and international bodies, including the United Nations Security Council.
ISIS’s Attack on Russia
ISIS carried out the attack on Russia’s capital Moscow for their Khorasan wing, known as ISIS-K. ISIS-K operates in regions encompassing northeastern Iran, southern Turkmenistan, and northern Afghanistan.
The organization became active in eastern Afghanistan in 2014 and later attracted many militants from Russian terrorist groups to Syria.
They oppose Putin and his propaganda, alleging that Putin’s government conducts atrocities against Muslims, similar to those during the Soviet era, especially in Chechnya and during Russia’s involvement in Syria.
Terrorists in Army Uniforms
Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin was informed that 70 ambulances have been dispatched to the scene of the incident, and a task force has been formed to aid the wounded. He stated that the attack occurred during a concert by a prominent Russian rock band in the hall.
The terrorists arrived at the building’s entry gates with automatic weapons and began firing indiscriminately. According to an eyewitness who survived the attack, the terrorists had beards and were armed with AK-class weapons. They had closed the main gate and were shooting at people nearby.
American Embassy Issued Warning, Criticized Putin
It has emerged that the US Embassy in Russia had issued a significant warning of an impending attack in March. The embassy had stated that extremists were planning an attack on a music concert in Moscow. An advisory released by the embassy urged American citizens present in Russia not to participate in any major gatherings for the next 48 hours.
Meanwhile, Russian President Vladimir Putin was criticized for the warning of the attack on the American Embassy. White House National Security Adviser John Kirby mentioned that they couldn’t provide more information at this time. The images of the attack are horrifying.
Construction of Crocus City Hall in 2009
Crocus City Hall was constructed in Krasnogorsk in 2009. It comprises three separate auditoriums, with one accommodating up to 7,000 people and the others having a capacity of over 4,000 each. One of the auditoriums can seat 3,000 people. Crocus City Hall also hosted the Miss Universe competition in 2013. It is one of the largest and most popular music venues in the Moscow region.
Terrorist Attacks in Russia
In October 2002, terrorists held around 800 people hostage in a Moscow theater. Forty-one Chechen militants were killed by Russian special forces two days later. Following the hostage crisis, 129 hostages also lost their lives.
In September 2004, nearly 30 Chechen militants took hundreds of people hostage in a school in southern Russia. Over 330 people died in the incident, with a significant number being children.
In 2017, an explosion in the St. Petersburg Metro claimed 14 lives. In 2013, just before the Sochi Olympics, suicide bombers killed 34 people in Volgograd.
In 2011, a suicide bomber at Moscow’s Domodedovo Airport killed 30 people.
