Attack in Moscow: Suspects are said to have been tortured

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People stood in several queues on Sunday, sometimes hundreds of meters long. They all wanted to leave flowers, candles or stuffed animals - to express their condolences. Two days after the terrorist attack in Moscow. On Friday evening, masked attackers stormed the fully occupied Crocus City Hall concert hall in the Russian capital and shot around. They killed at least 137 people, including three children, and set the building on fire. It was one of the worst attacks in Russian history.

Christina Hebel, DER SPIEGEL:

»The horror and shock are still great here. About this terrorist attack that many people can't really understand and don't really understand the background to.

Mourner:

»My first reaction was horror. That is simply impossible. Especially when children are involved."

"We stand in solidarity with this great sadness. This pain cannot be expressed in words.”

Christina Hebel, DER SPIEGEL:

»I spoke to several people here who told me that they were very unsettled and no longer wanted to go to large events, such as concerts or football games, because they simply did not understand who was behind this attack .”

Shortly after the attack, the terrorist militia “Islamic State” claimed responsibility for the crime. Russian President Vladimir Putin spoke of a connection to Ukraine. He officially declared Sunday a day of mourning - and the authorities took protective measures.

Christina Hebel, DER SPIEGEL:

»Security measures in Moscow have now been strengthened after the attack. The police are showing more presence in the metro and they have also taken up positions here near the mourners and are watching these queues very closely.

This mall, right next to Crocus City Hall, is usually very busy on weekends. But this Sunday it remained almost empty. Clean-up work has begun in the concert hall itself. The Crocus City Hall – it has already been announced – is to be rebuilt. In addition, the investigation is progressing. The authorities have already arrested eleven people. These include four men who are considered suspected shooters. They have already been brought before the court - and all had serious head injuries. A man was pushed into the courtroom in a wheelchair.

Christina Hebel, DER SPIEGEL:

»Videos had previously appeared in Telegram channels showing the torture of the suspected assassins. One had his ear cut off and the other was given electric shocks. The fact that such videos are openly shown of the torture of suspected attackers is a new quality and shows how the security authorities are trying to compensate for their failure with the terrorist attack by being harsh."