Witnesses recount the chaos, fear, and survival during the deadliest attack in Russia since 2004
MOSCOW: Four armed men dressed in camouflage calmly approached the metal detectors at Crocus City Hall on Friday evening (Mar 22), firing automatic weapons in short bursts at unsuspecting civilians. The 6,200-seat concert hall, set to host the Soviet-era rock band Picnic, turned into a scene of terror as screams filled the air and bodies fell amidst a hail of bullets.
Natalya, a witness who had just removed her coat at the entrance, recalled hearing the first shots. “It sounded like firecrackers, but louder. It was right behind me,” she told Reuters. Fleeing through the cold Moscow night without her coat, Natalya reached a metro station, shaken and in disbelief. “It was a nightmare,” she said.
More than 143 lives were lost, with dozens injured in what became Russia’s deadliest attack since the 2004 Beslan school siege. The Islamic State claimed responsibility for the carnage, and Russian authorities later detained 11 individuals, including the attackers, in the Bryansk region as they attempted to flee to Ukraine—a claim Kyiv has denied.
Chaos and Destruction
Witnesses described the attackers, clad in combat vests and carrying spare magazines, arriving in a minivan before storming the venue at around 7:40 pm. Firing indiscriminately through glass doors, they left dozens dead in pools of blood across the hall’s marble floors.
Inside the concert hall, the horror continued as concertgoers, initially mistaking the gunfire for special effects, scrambled for safety. “Your instinct for self-preservation takes over,” said Anastasia Rodionova, another survivor. “Some men managed to smash open a door to escape.”
As gunfire continued, loudspeakers announced the concert’s cancellation for “technical reasons,” urging attendees to leave. Verified videos showed panicked crowds rushing toward exits while the attackers fired controlled bursts into the chaos.
A Fire Ignites Amid the Gunfire
The attackers reportedly poured flammable liquid on seats and curtains, setting the venue ablaze. Flames quickly engulfed the 12,900-square-meter hall, causing the roof to collapse. Witnesses recounted leaping over fires, some with their clothes melting, to escape the inferno.
The fire left behind only charred beams and steel seat frames. Firefighters battled for hours to extinguish the blaze, but the devastation was complete.
Heart-Wrenching Losses
The grim aftermath revealed the extent of the tragedy. Fourteen bodies were discovered on evacuation staircases, while 28 were found in a restroom. Entire families perished, with mothers clutching their children in their final moments.
This catastrophic attack has left a nation reeling, highlighting the vulnerability of even its most iconic venues. As investigations continue, Moscow mourns the loss of innocent lives in a tragedy that will be remembered for years to come.
