A 15-year-old boy who saved more than a hundred people during the terrorist attack of March 22 on the Crocus City Hall outside Moscow has been acclaimed for his bravery by the assembly of Muslims in Russia.
Islam Khalilov was awarded a medal by Ravil Gaynutdin, chairman of the Religious Administration of Muslims of the Russian Federation and the Council of Muftis of Russia, after his courageous act in the concert hall.
Khalilov was presented with the Medal for Service to Muslims of Russia for his bravery during the ceremony held before the congregational Friday prayer at the Moscow Cathedral Mosque.
“I know that what happened will remain as a wound in your heart for the rest of your life. But what you did will also remain in your memory, but the most important thing is in the memory of our entire society, our entire people and all the peoples who expressed condolences to our president, our Russian people,” Gaynutdin said.
Khalilov opened doors and provided exit directions when he saw a large crowd of people running from the besieged concert hall.
Gaynutdin said he would also present a medal to Khalilov’s colleague Artyom Donskov, a Russian Orthodox who also helped a lot of people to leave the concert hall during the attack and saved their lives.
Both Khalilov and Donskov worked at the concert hall’s wardrobe section and were also awarded medals for bravery by Russia’s commissioner for children’s rights earlier this week.
Recounting the tragic event, Khalilov said the attack “was a harrowing experience, especially amid a panicked crowd, and gunfire.”
Four gunmen burst into Moscow’s Crocus City Hall and began shooting at the people who attended an event.
At least 140 people were killed in the terrorist attack, the worst in Russia’s history since the early 2000s. Some 200 people were also injured.
In the aftermath of the shooting, law enforcement detained several suspects, including four directly involved in the attack.
Eleven people, including the assailants, have been detained and face terrorism charges.
The Takfiri Daesh terrorist group claimed responsibility for the massacre but Russian officials blame Ukraine and the West.
