Moscow Attack: Online Tribute Portal for Victims’ Families

Amidst the grief and shock gripping the nation following the brutal terror assault at Crocus City Hall near Moscow, the Russian embassy in India has taken a significant step. On Sunday, they inaugurated an online book of condolence, allowing people to extend their sympathies to the families of the victims.

The toll from this barbaric attack, which ISIS has claimed responsibility for, has reached 133 as reported by the Russian Investigative Committee via state news agency TASS. The online book provides a platform for individuals to share healing messages, offer support, and express condolences for the bereaved families. Messages can be posted in the comment section or emailed directly to the embassy.

In an official statement on the Russian Embassy in India’s social media handle, it was announced, “The Embassy has initiated an online book of condolences for those wishing to convey sympathy to the families affected by the terrorist attack at Crocus City Hall on March 22, 2024. You can share your thoughts in the comments below or send a letter to rusembindia@mid.ru.”

As the debris is being cleared at the Crocus City Hall, the death toll from the terrorist attack has tragically risen to 133. The search and rescue operations are still ongoing, according to a statement from the Russian Investigative Committee.

Following the terror strike, Russian President Vladimir Putin has declared March 24th as a national day of mourning. In a televised address to the nation, he declared, “I proclaim March 24th as a day of national mourning.”

Promising to hold the perpetrators accountable, Putin condemned the attack on the Crocus City Hall music venue in Krasnogorsk near Moscow. He likened the terrorists to historical adversaries, stating, “Our people, our children, are being attacked just as they were by the Nazis during the war. All those responsible for this heinous crime will be brought to justice. We will uncover every individual behind these terrorists, and they will face consequences. This attack is an assault on Russia.”

Putin emphasized that Russia will conduct a thorough investigation into the attack, assuring that all involved perpetrators, including the four directly responsible, have been apprehended. Furthermore, Russian intelligence agencies have detained a total of 11 individuals, including the four terrorists, directly linked to the assault on Crocus City Hall, as reported by Russia’s Federal Security Service (FSB).

The tragic events unfolded on Friday evening at Crocus City Hall in Krasnogorsk, just outside Moscow. The concert venue, packed with approximately 7,500 attendees, came under attack moments before a performance by the Russian rock band Picnic, according to RT news agency.

Eyewitnesses and mobile footage depict at least five assailants dressed in military attire and armed with assault rifles opening fire at unarmed security personnel stationed at the venue’s entrance. Subsequently, they indiscriminately fired upon the fleeing crowd before setting fire to rows of chairs within the concert hall, engulfing the premises in flames, including the roof.

Preliminary investigations suggest that the attackers utilized automatic firearms and a flammable substance to ignite the fire, as confirmed by evidence collected at the scene. The ISIS has claimed responsibility for the assault on the concert venue complex near Moscow on Friday night, where gunmen launched an attack using firearms and incendiary devices, according to CNN.

Meanwhile, the head of Russia’s Federal Security Service (FSB), Aleksandr Bortnikov, has briefed President Vladimir Putin on the progress, confirming the detention of eleven suspects, including the four terrorists directly involved in the Crocus attack, as stated by the Kremlin press service.