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'People climbed on heads of others to get out': Eyewitnesses recount horror of Moscow concert hall attack in Russia

NEW DELHI: In one of the deadliest attacks in Russia in almost two decades, more than 100 people were killed as gunmen barged into a large concert hall in Moscow on Friday and sprayed bullets into the crowd. According to state media reports, Russian authorities have detained 11 individuals in connection with the attack, while the Islamic State has claimed responsibility for it. The attack took place as crowds gathered for a performance by the Russian rock band Picnic. The bombing left the concert hall in flames with a collapsing roof and was one of the deadliest in Russia in recent years. 108722718 Dave Primov, who was in the hall during the attack, described panic and chaos when the attack began. “There were volleys of gunfire,” Primov told the AP. “We all got up and tried to move toward the aisles. People began to panic, started to run and collided with each other. Some fell down and others trampled on them,” he said. Alexei, a music producer, was about to settle into his seat before the start of a rock concert when he heard gunfire and "a lot of screams". "I realised right away that it was automatic gunfire and understood that most likely it's the worst: a terrorist attack," said Alexei, who would not give his last name.

attack in Russia

As people ran towards emergency exits, 'there was a terrible crush' with concert-goers climbing on one another's heads to get out, he added. Attackers detained Russian authorities have detained 11 people following the heinous attack on a Moscow concert hall. The Investigative Committee of Russia has revealed that four of the detainees were directly involved in the assault, which left the concert venue ablaze and its roof collapsed. While the Islamic State group has claimed responsibility for the attack, Russian agencies have hinted at possible links to Ukraine. However, US intelligence officials have confirmed the involvement of the Islamic State group. 108732195 The suspects were apprehended in the Bryansk region of western Russia, near the Ukraine border, with alleged plans to flee into Ukraine. They reportedly had connections in Ukraine, as per Russia's Federal Security Service (FSB), which briefed President Vladimir Putin on the arrests.