Over 150 Christians Killed: Russia Overrun by Islamic State

- Alert across Russia, national mourning declared today following the biggest terror attack in 20 years

- 11 terrorists arrested including four attackers, Rs. Terrorist's claim of 4.52 lakh bribe: More than 200 injured, death toll expected to rise

- 6,200 people attend concert by popular Russian band 'Piknik', world stunned by attack

Moscow: The death toll has risen to more than 150 and more than 200 people have been injured in the deadliest terror attack in two decades on Friday night during a music concert at the Crocus City Hall near Moscow, the capital of Russia. Islamic State Khurasan Province, which claimed responsibility for the attack, said it killed a large number of Christians in a hall outside Moscow. Security agencies have arrested 11 terrorists including four attackers. Apart from this, many suspects have been detained. Russian President Vladimir Putin has accused Ukraine of involvement in the attack and declared national mourning on Sunday. The US also claimed it had warned Russia of the attack, but it ignored it.

Russian band Picnic had a concert on Friday night at the 16,000-capacity Crocus City Hall near Moscow. More than 6,200 people were present in the hall to watch the programme. While the program was in progress, four Islamic State-Khurasan (IS) assailants in Russian military dress fired indiscriminately at the audience with automatic guns and set off explosions, causing the hall to catch fire. The death toll in this attack is constantly increasing.

The attack comes just days after Vladimir Putin consolidated his grip on power for a fifth term as Russia's head of state. After the attack, Russian agencies and several leaders claimed that the attack was linked to Ukraine. However, Islamic State-Khurasan claimed responsibility for the attack in a telegram saying it had killed a crowd of Christians during an event near Moscow. The attackers entered Crocus City Hall dressed in Russian military uniforms, giving the impression that the attack was carried out by soldiers exhausted from the war with Ukraine. The terrorists first opened fire on the crowd and then threw bombs. Islamic State Khurasan claimed it had been planning an attack on Russia for two years, which it finally succeeded on Friday.

Security agencies of Russia arrested 11 terrorists including four attackers. Security agencies also released a video of a terrorist, in which he is seen saying that he was promised a compensation of 5,00,000 rubles (approximately Rs. 4.52 lakh) for the attack. I killed people in Crocus City Hall for money. Half of the money was transferred to my card and the rest was due later. However, my card fell somewhere while trying to escape from the security officials. The Russian Investigative Committee said that the four attackers were arrested in the Bronsk region of western Russia. They were in the process of fleeing to Ukraine after the attack. Ukraine is suspected to be behind this attack. Several videos of the attack went viral on social media, in which flames could be seen shooting out of the building and into the sky. The video showed several fire engines, ambulances and other emergency vehicles reaching the spot after the attack. The relief and rescue team rescued more than 100 people from the building, sources said.

The attack came a week after Putin became president for a fifth term

Terrorists were trying to flee Ukraine after the attack: Putin

- Nothing to do with the attack : Defense of Ukraine informed of the attack : US claim

After the terrorist attack of the Islamic State-Khurasan on Friday night in Crocus City Hall near Moscow, Russian President Vladimir Putin addressed the nation on Saturday and said that the people behind this attack will not be released. Putin further hinted at Ukraine's involvement behind the attack.

A week after Putin seized power in Russia for a fifth consecutive term, the deadliest terror attack in two decades took place at Crocus City Hall near Moscow. Criticizing the attack, President Putin declared national mourning on Sunday. He said that many innocent people have become victims of terror attack in Crocus City Hall. I am sure that the doctors at Crocus City Hall will do everything possible to save the victims of the terrorist attack. We will not spare whoever is behind this attack. They will be severely punished. According to our preliminary information, the attackers were in the process of fleeing to Ukraine, but they have already been arrested. Ukraine's involvement in the attack is also suspected. The attackers were in contact with some people in Ukraine.

However, Mykhailo Podolyak, an adviser to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, denied his involvement. He said that Ukraine has never used terrorist methods. Everything in this war will happen on the field. American intelligence officials also claimed that they had warned Russia in advance of the attack. But he did not pay attention to it. America has also blamed the Islamic State for this attack. An American intelligence official said, "We received inputs about the attack in Moscow a few days ago, which we passed on to the Russian authorities. However, this US warning was considered by Russian President Putin as an attempt to intimidate him. The news has sparked outrage among Russians towards Putin.

Also upset with Russia's support for President Bashar in Syria

The extremely fanatical ISIS Khorasan is a staunch enemy of Russia

The Islamic State-Khoras claimed responsibility for the worst terror attack in Russia in 20 years. Earlier, this terrorist organization focused in Syria and the Middle East, now it has also targeted Russia. This terrorist organization is eager to create the Islamic-State of Iraq and Syria (Caliphate). The Islamic State's Khorasan unit extends into Afghanistan, Central Asia's Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, and the mountainous regions of north-eastern Iran. Islamic State Khorasan has become a staunch enemy of Russia, due to Russia's support for President Bashar's regime in Syria. Russia has sent its troops to support President Bashar's regime in Syria. For this reason, IS-Khorasan has focused its attention on Russia for the past two years. Moreover, according to this terrorist organization, Russia persecutes Muslims. Russia is a Christian country. This is why the Islamic State claimed responsibility for the attack after the Crocus City Hall attack, saying it attacked a crowd of Christians.