Moscow concert hall attack: Russia says 11 people detained; death toll climbs to 93

Russia has detained 11 people in connection with the concert hall attack in Moscow that killed 93 people and injured more than 140 others, the state news agency Tass reported on Saturday (Mar 23).

This development was communicated to President Vladimir Putin by the head of the country’s Federal Security Service.

On Friday, camouflage-clad gunmen opened fire with automatic weapons at concertgoers at the Crocus City Hall near the capital. The Islamic State (ISIS) claimed responsibility for the attack in a statement posted on affiliated channels on social media.

Gunmen sprayed civilians with bullets just before Soviet-era rock group “Picnic” was to perform to a full house at the 6,200-seat Crocus City Hall.

This was the deadliest attack in Russia since the 2004 Beslan school siege.

Videos circulating on social media showed people taking their seats in the hall, then rushing for the exits as repeated gunfire echoed above screams. Other videos showed men shooting at groups of people. Some victims lay motionless in pools of blood.