Death toll from terrorist attack in Russia rises to 137

The Russian Investigative Committee has updated the death toll from the terrorist attack in Moscow.

In a statement released online, the committee said that “the bodies of 137 people were found at the site of the terrorist attack, three of whom are children.”
The committee added that 62 bodies have been identified so far.

“For the remaining victims, genetic tests are being carried out to establish their identities,” the statement said. “Crime scene investigation continues.”

Authorship of the attack was admitted by the Islamic State. Four people were arrested in connection with the terrorist action.

Armed people randomly opened fire at the Crocus City complex – home to a popular music venue and shopping center – on Friday night (22).

The crowd was still coming in, but the auditorium was already full before the band Picnic's show. Around 6,500 tickets were reportedly sold for the show. But instead of a night of dancing to rock music, chaos unfolded.

Panicked eyewitnesses captured on video the exact moment gunmen, dressed in camouflage uniforms and carrying automatic weapons, began shooting indiscriminately. Footage showed spectators screaming and hiding behind seats as others huddled together as gunshots echoed through the vast hall.

During the violence, a group taking shelter near a large glass wall outside the concert hall was forced to break it to escape gunfire, video obtained by CNN shows.

An anonymous witness who survived the attack said the gunmen entered the concert hall and “started shooting at everyone.”

“I was sitting in the hallway upstairs, where the balconies were. We heard gunshots. At first, we didn’t understand what had happened,” he said in an interview with Ostorozhno Novosti, published by Reuters. He added that the attackers threw a Molotov cocktail, and then, “everything was set on fire.” The artists emerged unharmed.

The flames were still raging at Crocus City early on Saturday (23) and the roof of the place partially collapsed. Nearly 500 people were working to dismantle rubble at the site, the Russian Emergencies Ministry said.