Terrorist attack in Moscow: The death toll rises to 143 – How many were the perpetrators?

Russia said on Saturday it had arrested 11 people, including four suspected of involvement in the shooting massacre that left 143 dead at a concert hall near Moscow, Russia’s deadliest attack in 20 years.

Police arrested 11 suspects – including the four gunmen directly involved in carrying out the deadly attack – following a car chase in Russia’s Bryansk region.

The Russian Security Service said the alleged attackers had contacts in Ukraine and were heading for the border. “After committing the terrorist attack, the criminals intended to cross the Russian-Ukrainian border and had the appropriate contacts on the Ukrainian side,” the FSB said. The information says that they were arrested 100 kilometers from the border.

What is safe to report so far

Ukraine’s presidency said Kiev “had nothing to do with the attack”, while its military intelligence services called the incident a “Russian provocation” and accused Moscow’s special services of being behind it.

The Islamic State group, specifically ISIS-K or ISIS of Khorasan, claimed responsibility for the attack, saying its fighters attacked a “large gathering” on the outskirts of Moscow and “retired safely to their bases”.

The attackers dressed in camouflage uniforms entered the building, opened fire and threw grenades or firebombs. Videos showed images of flames and black smoke billowing from the hall. Three helicopters were involved in efforts to extinguish the fire, pouring water on the giant concert venue that can hold several thousand people and has hosted top international artists.

Putin said all the perpetrators had been arrested, but this information contradicted that from security sources.

Victims of bullets, fire and fumes

Dozens of people hid behind seats in the hall or rushed to the basement or roof entrances to escape the bullets. Many escaped the bullets and died from the fire and fumes. Information from the Russian national guard on Telegram spoke of 10 dead people who were found in the toilet where they were hiding and died from the fumes. Others fled higher up, but part of the roof collapsed as a result of the fire.

The US embassy had said two weeks before the attack that there was a risk of “extremists” targeting mass gatherings in Moscow, including concerts. The Russian side says that they called the embassy in Moscow to provide more information about the impending terrorist attack, but Maria Zakharova said that they were not delivered. Russia believed that the US wanted to sow terror at home and treated it as “psychological warfare”.

Russian President Vladimir Putin wished the injured a speedy recovery. “The president wished everyone a speedy recovery and expressed his gratitude to the doctors,” Deputy Prime Minister Tatiana Golikova was quoted as saying by Russian news agencies. As he noted, “all the perpetrators were found and arrested”. Initially, the perpetrators were reported to be at least 5 and up to 20. Of the 11 suspects, only four are related to the attack.