Four people suspected of storming a concert hall and carrying out a deadly attack have been detained, including two following a car chase, according to Russian lawmaker Alexander Khinshtein.
The two fled in a Renault car and were caught in Russia’s Bryansk region, around 210 miles southwest of Moscow. Other suspects fled into a nearby forest and were also arrested.
Mr Khinshtein said a pistol, a magazine for an assault rifle, and passports from Tajikistan were found in the car.
According to Russian state news agency Tass, Russian president Vladimir Putin has been told that 11 people in total have been detained, including the four directly involved in the attack.
Russian state TV editor Margarita Simonyan said the death toll had climbed to 143 but did not give the source of her information.
Russia’s Federal Security Service said “all possible measures are being taken to provide assistance to those affected” by the shooting.
ISIS has claimed responsibility for the attack, the deadliest in Russia since the Beslan school siege in 2004.
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Putin suggests Ukraine linked to attack and declares Sunday as nationwide day of mourning
Russian president Vladimir Putin said Saturday that additional security measures have been imposed throughout the country and suggested that Ukraine was linked to the attack on a concert hall on the outskirts of Moscow that killed 115 people.
Putin said all four people directly involved in the attack had been detained and suggested they were trying to cross the border into Ukraine while escaping. He provided no evidence for that claim.
He ordered that Sunday will be a nationwide day of mourning. The attack was the deadliest in Russia in years and left the concert hall a smoldering ruin.
Joe Middleton23 March 2024 12:53
Ukraine dismiss FSB Moscow attack link as ‘nothing in common with reality’
Ukraine was not involved in Friday’s shooting attack near Moscow and suggestions of a Ukrainian link “have nothing in common with reality,” a spokesman for Kyiv’s military spy agency said on Saturday.
Russia’s FSB security service said “all four terrorists” behind the attack at a concert hall near the capital had been arrested while heading to the Ukrainian border, and that they had contacts in Ukraine.
“This is of course another lie from the Russian special services, which has nothing in common with reality and does not stand up against any criticism,” Andriy Yusov, of the Defence Ministry’s Main Directorate of Intelligence, told Reuters.
He added: “Ukraine was of course not involved in this terror attack. Ukraine is defending its sovereignty from Russian invaders, liberating its own territory and is fighting with the occupiers’ army and military targets, not civilians.”
Joe Middleton23 March 2024 12:23
Russia’s FSB security service tries to link attack to Ukraine
Russia’s FSB security service said “all four terrorists” had been arrested while heading to the Ukrainian border, and that they had contacts in Ukraine. It said they were being transferred to Moscow.
The FSB seem to be pursuing a link between the attack and Ukraine despite Islamist group Islamic State claiming responsibility for Friday’s attack.
Ukrainian presidential adviser Mykhailo Podolyak on Friday that Kyiv had nothing to do with the assault.
Joe Middleton23 March 2024 11:49
UK shadow foreign secretary condemns ‘appalling’ Moscow attack
Shadow foreign secretary David Lammy has condemned the “appalling” attack on concert goers in Moscow.
Posting on X, formerly Twitter, he said “our thoughts are with every victim and family affected by this cowardly act”.
Joe Middleton23 March 2024 11:33
What do we know about Crocus City Hall?
Crocus City Hall is sprawling music venue and shopping mall on the fringes of Moscow, in the north-western suburb of Krasnogorsk.
The venue has a capacity for 6,000 and people inside the venue were reportedly preparing for a concert by progressive rock band Picnic.
Artists such as Eric Clapton and Joe Cocker have also played at the concert hall.
The venue itself is part of a larger block which has restaurants, hotels and other attractions.
Joe Middleton23 March 2024 11:05
UK foreign secretary: ‘Nothing can ever justify such horrific violence’
Lord David Cameron, the UK’s foreign secretary, has condemned the terrorist attack at Crocus City Hall.
Posting on X, formerly Twitter, Lord Cameron offered his “heartfelt condolences” to the families of victims.
Joe Middleton23 March 2024 10:38
Pictured: Rescuers work inside the Crocus City Hall, a day after the attack
(RUSSIAN EMERGENCY MINISTRY/AFP v)
(RUSSIAN EMERGENCY MINISTRY/AFP v)
(RUSSIAN EMERGENCY MINISTRY/AFP v)
Joe Middleton23 March 2024 10:23
BREAKING: Death toll rises to 115
The death toll from an attack near Moscow on Friday evening has risen to 115 people, Russia‘s Investigative Committee said on Saturday.
Russia has arrested 11 people including four suspected gunmen in connection with the shooting rampage in a concert hall near Moscow, the Kremlin said on Saturday.
Joe Middleton23 March 2024 10:03
Russians rush to donate blood after terror attack
Hundreds of people stood in line Saturday morning to donate blood and plasma, Russia’s health ministry said.
There were long queues outside the Blood Centre of the Federal Medical and Biological Agency, in Moscow.
People lineup to donate blood to help victims of the attack in Crocus City Hall
(AP)
Joe Middleton23 March 2024 09:33
Putin and Lukashenko ready to cooperate in fight against terrorism
Russian president Vladimir Putin and his Belarusian counterpart Alexander Lukashenko confirmed their readiness to work together in the fight against terrorism in a phone call, the TASS news agency quoted the Kremlin as saying on Saturday.
Russia has arrested 11 people including four suspected gunmen in connection with a shooting rampage that killed 93 people in a concert hall near Moscow, the Kremlin said on Saturday.
Joe Middleton23 March 2024 09:19