Russian intelligence agencies have apprehended 11 individuals, including four individuals identified as terrorists, purportedly linked to a terrorist assault on the Crocus City Hall, as reported by TASS citing a statement from Russia’s Federal Security Service (FSB) on Saturday.
“The diligent efforts of intelligence and law enforcement agencies have led to the detention of 11 individuals, including four terrorists directly involved in the terrorist attack on the Crocus City Hall,” the statement conveyed.
Efforts are underway to identify accomplices of the terrorists and ascertain all details surrounding the attack, TASS reported.
Alexander Bortnikov, the head of the Russian Security Service (FSB), informed Russian President Vladimir Putin that eleven people have been apprehended in connection to the assault on the Crocus complex near Moscow on Friday, according to Russian state media.
The Kremlin confirmed that those apprehended encompassed “all four terrorists directly implicated in the terrorist attack in Crocus,” as per reports from TASS and other state media outlets.
Meanwhile, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has vehemently denounced the terrorist attack at Crocus City Hall and extended condolences to the people and government of the Russian Federation, according to a statement issued by Deputy Spokesperson for the Secretary-General Farhan Haq.
“The Secretary-General condemns in the strongest terms today’s terrorist attack at a concert hall outside Moscow, in which at least 40 people were reportedly killed and over 100 others injured. The Secretary-General extends his heartfelt condolences to the bereaved families and the people and the Government of the Russian Federation,” the statement stated.
The Secretary-General also wished a prompt recovery to the injured.
A terrorist assault occurred at the Crocus City Hall music venue in Krasnogorsk, near Moscow, on Friday evening local time.
Unidentified gunmen armed with assault rifles carried out the attack. An explosion ensued within the building, leading to a fire. Special services are engaged in a search operation. Moscow Mayor Sergey Sobyanin cancelled all mass events in the capital for the next two days, with several other Russian regions following suit, according to TASS.
Meanwhile, the death toll from the assault on the Crocus City complex climbed to 93, as reported by CNN citing the Russian Investigative Committee.
“The death toll is expected to rise further. According to preliminary findings, causes of death included gunshot wounds and inhalation of combustion products,” the committee stated on Saturday.
“Preliminary investigations into the concert hall premises suggest that the terrorists utilized automatic weapons during the attack, which, along with the ammunition they left behind, were discovered and seized by investigators,” the committee also noted.
“Based on this physical evidence, ballistic, genetic, and fingerprint examinations are currently ongoing,” it added.
“It was also determined that the terrorists employed a flammable substance to ignite the concert hall premises.”
Earlier on Saturday, Moscow region Governor Andrey Vorobyov reported that there were still 115 injured individuals, including five children, in hospitals in Moscow and Moscow Oblast.
The Investigative Committee stated that the inspection of the concert hall was ongoing. Emergency services were still clearing debris, CCTV footage was being analyzed, and efforts had commenced with the victims, CNN reported.
