In the city of Krasnogorsk in the Moscow region, the death toll has risen due to a terrorist attack at the Crocus City Mall. Many bodies of people who suffocated in the fire have been found at the scene of the tragedy, according to Russian media.
According to the Investigative Committee of the Russian Federation, the number of victims of the terrorist attack has exceeded 60 people. Bodies continue to be removed from the building, which is still burning inside, so the death toll may rise.
Sources from the Telegram channel BAZA report about 70 dead.
Many bodies were found in toilets, feeding rooms, and premises where cleaners stored inventory - people hid there from the shooting. According to media reports, they suffocated from smoke during the fire.
Among them, allegedly, was the body of one of the terrorists, identified by the bomb he had with him. The bomb was taken by sappers.
Story of an eyewitness
One of the spectators who was in the concert hall Crocus City Mall described the terrorists' attack.
According to him, four armed men entered the hall and immediately started shooting at the audience.
"They were shooting everyone in sight. Whoever they saw, they shot right away. They entered unexpectedly, and whoever could, ran straight through the stage. I mean, backstage. The attackers set fire, to Molotov cocktails. It didn't work for them the first time; it went out, but they immediately threw another one towards the hall," the eyewitness said.
The man noted that the crowd of spectators, numbering 400-500 people, tried to exit through the fire exits, but they were closed. So they exited through the main entrance in the first wave.
Terrorist attack in the Moscow region
On the evening of Friday, March 22, in the city of Krasnogorsk in the Moscow region, several armed men in camouflage opened fire at the Crocus City Mall. Initially, there were reports of 40 dead and 100 injured.
Later, several media outlets reported that the attack was carried out by the ISIS group. However, other sources refute this information.
Some Russian officials blamed Ukraine for the incident, but Kyiv denied involvement.
The Main Intelligence Directorate of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine called the attack a planned and deliberate provocation by Russian special services at the direction of dictator Vladimir Putin.
