ISIS claimed responsibility for the attack on the Crocus City Hall concert hall on the outskirts of Moscow via telegram on Friday.
Social media quickly became flooded with comments and accounts from people who had experienced the event firsthand.
Subject armed with machine gun invades Moscow concert hall
“It was about 10 minutes before the concert started and a lot of people were already seated. At one point I heard gunshots, but they sounded like fireworks,” said a woman who was at the venue.
“My friend who was sitting next to me looked at me and said, “Fireworks, or what?'' Then, in the lower part near the stage, a bunch of people were walking fast, as if they were playing trains. I could see it, but I didn't understand what it meant.
Everything seemed normal until…
Bassist Marat Korchemny told Pravda: “We were sitting in the dressing room as usual, preparing for the concert. As I was leaving for the stage, the musicians ran out to meet me.”
“My first thought was that there might be a short circuit somewhere because I saw smoke. I don't know what kind of technical problem there is. But then I heard the screams and I heard gunshots. They told me to go back to the locker room and barricade myself.
“I fell down and played dead. The girl next to me was killed.
“People were panicking, some crying, others calling relatives, and a group waiting for the broken elevator. By the time we finally got outside, there was already a fire. '' some survivors recalled in complete panic.