Watan-A Muslim boy named Islam Khalilov, aged 15, saved around 100 people during the attack on the Crocus Hall in the Krasnogorsk suburb northwest of the Russian capital, Moscow.
The story of the boy Islam topped social media discussions, being described as a “hero,” as a video circulated showing him leading people through corridors, away from where the attackers were present.
Islam, who works part-time at the Crocus Hall, said, “It is better for me to die in battle myself than to let others die.”
According to him, all staff were guided on how to act in emergencies, and all he did was follow the instructions precisely.
During the attack and subsequent fire, Islam directed people. When he noticed the crowd running into a dead-end toward the toilet, the teenager took charge and began leading the evacuation.
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15 year old Islam Khalilov saved over 100 lives during the Moscow terrorist attack yesterday
Despite his age, Islam worked part-time at the hall and he used his knowledge to lead people through passages, out of harm’s way
Hero. Give him a medal.
— Alex Barnicoat (@mrbarnicoat) March 23, 2024
Islam managed to take people from the narrow corridor to the “Expo” area, then through the facilities room to the street safely.
The Russian Investigative Committee said on Saturday, citing preliminary data, that at least 143 people were killed in the attack, with the number of fatalities likely to rise. Around 150 people were injured.
The Investigative Committee indicated that the suspects were arrested in the Bryansk region of Russia near the Ukrainian border. Eleven people were arrested, including four suspected perpetrators.
Russian President Vladimir Putin said in a televised address that the four gunmen who carried out the attack on the Crocus Hall in the Krasnogorsk suburb had been arrested before they could cross the border into Ukraine.
🚨⚡️بطـــل جديد :
طالب يدعى “إسلام” ينقذ أكثر من 100 شخص خلال الهجوم الإرهابي في “كروكوس”!
يقول إسلام: “من الأفضل أن أموت في المعركة بنفسي بدلاً من أن أدع الآخرين يموتون”
يبلغ البطل إسلام 15 عامًا.
وبحسب ما قاله، فقد تم إرشاد جميع الإداريين حول كيفية التصرف في حالة الطوارئ ،… pic.twitter.com/y2cEc2NxHE— الموجز الروسي | Russia news 🇷🇺 (@mog_Russ) March 23, 2024
Putin added, “We will determine the identity of everyone behind the terrorists and everyone who prepared the attack,” and continued, “They will face an unenviable fate.”
The Federal Security Service said the suspected attackers planned to cross the border and were in contact with individuals on the Ukrainian side.