Number of dead rises to more than 60 in Moscow concert hall attack
By Story Agencies, March 23, 2024Russia’s Investigative Committee has revealed that the the number of victims killed in the Moscow concert hall attack is now more than 60, with over 100 others injured.
Maria Lvova-Belova, Russia’s commissioner for children’s rights, has said children are among the more than 60 victims of the shooting at Crocus City Hall, to the west of the capital in Krasnogorsk.
In a statement written in Russian on the Telegram messaging app, she said: “We are in touch with the commissioners for children’s rights of Moscow and the Moscow region.
“Among the victims of the terrorist attack are children. Information about their condition is regularly updated. Any additional assistance will be provided immediately.”
Russian state news agency RIA quoted a spokesperson for the Investigative Committee as saying it was too early to say anything about the fate of the attackers.
Meanwhile, President Vladimir Putin has wished a speedy recovery to those injured, state news agency TASS reported, citing deputy prime minister Tatiana Golikova.
Following the terrorist attack in Moscow’s Crocus City Hall, the Russian Ministry of Culture on Saturday announced cancellation of all mass and entertainment events at federal cultural institutions for the coming days, the ministry’s press service said on Saturday.
“Mass and entertainment events at federal cultural institutions are canceled for the coming days,” it said.
The ministry also expressed condolences to the families and friends of those killed in Crocus City Hall.
The attack has come days after Russian President Vladimir Putin told the the board of the Federal Security Service, the country’s intelligence agency, that “Western structures” had been engaging in “outright blackmail” when they warned Moscow of potential terrorist attacks.
Putin told those gathered at the board meeting: “I would also like to recall the recent provocative statements by a number of official Western structures regarding potential terrorist attacks in Russia. All these actions resemble outright blackmail and the intention to intimidate and destabilize our society.
“You are well aware of them, so I will not go into details at this point.”
Following the shooting on Friday, a US National Security Council spokesperson said America shared information about a potential terrorist attack in Moscow with Russia’s government earlier this month.