Crocus City Hall attack

Crocus City Hall attack

On March 22, 2024, a terrible event happened at the Crocus City Hall music venue near Moscow, Russia.

Around 8:00 PM local time, just before a concert was about to start, several attackers began harming the people there. They used guns and set fires, causing great fear and sadness.

Sadly, many people lost their lives, and hundreds more were hurt. This was one of the worst such events in Russia in many years.

The Russian government worked to find those responsible and made a day for the country to remember those who were lost. This event reminded everyone of the importance of safety and caring for one another.

Background

Further information: List of terrorist incidents linked to Islamic State – Khorasan Province and Terrorism in Russia

Russia has had some serious attacks in the past. These include events in Moscow, a school in Beslan, and an airport in Domodedovo. Some of these attacks were done by Muslim groups.

The Islamic State has carried out attacks at music venues in Europe, such as in Paris and Manchester. They have also been responsible for other incidents, like a plane crash and a bombing at an embassy.

Crocus City Hall was built in 2009. It is a large building that can hold many people and is part of a bigger area with shops and restaurants.

Attack

On March 22, 2024, the Russian band Picnic was going to play at Crocus City Hall. Just before the show started, armed people began shooting at the crowd. Some people first thought the noise was part of the show, but it was not. Sadly, this happened while children and teenagers were also there for a ballroom dancing competition.

The attackers used guns and started fires inside the building. Some people escaped because a 15-year-old named Islam Khalilov helped them find a safe way out. Police and emergency teams came later to help everyone. The fires caused parts of the roof to fall, and the building was badly damaged.

Casualties

The attack caused many injuries and deaths. Sadly, many people lost their lives, and many more were hurt. Some people were hurt by breathing in harmful smoke. Some children were among those affected. Most of those affected lived near Moscow, including places like Krasnogorsk and Khimki. People from several countries, such as Belarus, Kyrgyzstan, Moldova, Armenia, and Azerbaijan, were also among the victims.

The search for those affected ended on March 23. The health department in Moscow worked to identify the bodies. The band Picnic shared that they and their team were safe, though one staff member sadly did not survive.

Investigation

Twelve people were detained in connection with the event at Crocus City Hall. This included the four individuals believed to have carried out the attack. They were found in a car near the border of Ukraine. Russian authorities worked with nearby countries to stop the suspects from escaping.

The suspects appeared in court and faced serious charges related to the attack. Some of them admitted to being involved. The investigation continued with many more people being questioned and arrested for helping in any way. The trial for those involved began in 2025, and sentences were given in 2026.

Suspects

Twelve people were arrested for their part in the attack. Eight of them appeared in court by March 26. Nine were arrested in the town of Vahdat, Tajikistan, and four others were arrested in Dagestan for giving weapons to the attackers. One person admitted to moving weapons from Makhachkala to Mytishchi. Six more people were charged for helping to recruit and train the attackers, but they were not caught at the time.

Four people from Tajikistan were accused of carrying out the attack. One had family ties to a group that operated in Syria. Another had worked in factories and used an interpreter to talk to others. A third had many different jobs and was contacted online with an offer to commit violent acts. The fourth was young and had worked in a barber shop before the attack. Some other people were arrested for helping to support or give money to the attackers, but some of them said they were not involved.

Responsibility for the attack

A group called the Islamic State said they were behind the attack. Some leaders in other countries think the group may have acted on their own. The leader of Russia later talked about who might have been involved.

Aftermath

After the attack, people left flowers and candles outside the Crocus City Hall to honor those who were hurt. In Moscow, big screens showed sad messages, and cleaning began to remove broken pieces from the building. Three big shopping places owned by the same company as the hall were closed for a long time.

President Putin spoke to the country and said that March 24 would be a day of sadness to remember the people who were hurt. He said the people who did this attack were caught and were trying to go to another country. Many events in Moscow and other cities like Saint Petersburg were cancelled, and extra guards were put in places like airports and train stations.

A young person, Islam Khalilov, who helped save many people that night, was given an award and money for his bravery. A football game that was supposed to happen was also cancelled because of the attack.

In the weeks after, diplomats from many countries visited the place of the attack to leave flowers.

Unfortunately, after the attack, some people in Russia started treating immigrants unfairly. There were reports of people being treated badly just because of where they came from. Some places stopped letting immigrants work in certain jobs.

Responses

Russian allegations of Ukrainian and Western involvement

See also: Disinformation in the Russian invasion of Ukraine § Involvement in the Crocus City Hall attack

After the attack, Russian leaders said that Ukraine was involved, but they did not show any proof. The Russian president said the attackers tried to go into Ukraine and that Ukraine had helped them. Russia and Ukraine have been fighting since 2014, and Russia has been invading Ukraine since 2022. A top Russian official said that Ukraine helped plan the attack. Another official said that radical groups prepared the attack with help from Ukraine and Western countries. A Russian spokesperson accused the United States of using a group to hide Ukraine’s involvement. Ukraine denied any part in the attack and called Russia’s claims doubtful and misleading. They said the border between Russia and Ukraine is heavily guarded. Ukraine’s foreign ministry called the accusations a plan by Russia to make people more against Ukraine and to get more soldiers for the war. They even suggested that Russia itself planned the attack to make it look like others did it. The United States said there was no proof Ukraine was involved, and a British leader called the Russian claims a way to defend Russia’s war on Ukraine. In April 2025, a Russian investigation found no proof that Ukraine was involved in the attack.

Domestic

The Russian president wished a quick recovery for those hurt in the attack and praised the doctors who were helping them. Russia’s prime minister said the attackers would be punished. A leader of the Russian Orthodox Church said he was praying for peace for those who died.

Russia’s foreign ministry called on the world to condemn the attack, calling it a terrible crime.

A leader from Chechnya and the wife of a Russian opposition figure also condemned the attack.

International

The United States embassy in Moscow offered its sympathy to the Russian people but warned American citizens to stay away from the area. The British and Spanish embassies also offered their sympathy and flew flags at half mast.

In Afghanistan, the government called the attack a violation of human standards and asked countries to work together to stop such incidents. Many countries, including Armenia, Azerbaijan, and Kazakhstan, laid flowers at Russian embassies to remember the victims. The United Nations, the European Union, NATO, and Pope Francis also offered their sympathy. Diplomats from many countries attended a ceremony to lay flowers at a memorial near the attack site.

French terror alert level

On 24 March, France raised its security level to the highest because of the attack.

Crackdown on IS in Turkey

Further information: Terrorism in Turkey

After the attack, Turkey detained over 180 people thought to have links to the group.

Reciprocal visa requirements

On 8 April, Turkey ended a visa agreement with Tajikistan because of security worries. In response, on 16 April, Tajikistan began requiring visas for Turkish citizens visiting.

Monument

On March 22, 2025, a special day to remember those who were hurt during the attack, a memorial was put up near the building. This memorial was made to honor the people who were affected. The design of the memorial was created by Araz Agalarov, who owns the Crocus Group.