On the evening of Friday, March 22, 2024, there were tragic happenings when a concert hall located in Moscow attacked at outskirts turned into the site of a horrific mass shooting that resulted in a large number of death and injuries. The current reported death toll stands at least one hundred and thirty-three people while another one hundred forty-five individuals are said to be injured.
The Russian president addressed the country and pledged to punish those responsible for the atrocious act. He declared all guilty parties, organizers, or anybody connected with criminal activities would be punished by law. On top of this, Putin alleged that Ukrainian authorities facilitated assailants’ escape to Ukraine which was rejected by Ukrainian officials.
The US National Security Council said it had information regarding a probable terrorist attack in Moscow but stressed on no participation by Ukraine in the issue. They alerted their citizens residing in Russia while sharing intelligence with Russian authorities as part of their “duty to warn” policy.
The responsibility for the attack on the Crocus City Hall, where some of the concertgoers were shot at and other parts set ablaze, was claimed by ISIS-K which is a part of Islamic State Group through its Telegram channel. Not far from the Ukrainian border, the hostage-takers were arrested by the police in Bryansk region. They were said to be foreigners.
There was a national day of mourning declared by Putin while communities across Russia held impromptu memorials in honor of those killed. The country has been left shaken after this incident with calls for unity and resilience against terrorism.
This tragedy also highlights both ISIS-K and similar extremist groups’ activities remaining threats as well as significance developed by cooperation among countries in combating terrorism. Therefore, no one can afford to take their eyes off this useless war.
ISIS is recognized by many governments and international organizations as a terrorist organization because it has an infamous history of conducting brutal violence that targets innocent people in different nations.
