Terrorists attacked Crocus City Hall, a concert venue in Moscow, Russia, on Friday March 22, killing more than 137 people, including three children. A toll which could have been even heavier without the intervention of 15-year-old high school students, Islam Khalikov and Artiom Donskov, who worked in the locker room. They kept their cool during the attack and guided several dozen people to emergency exits.
A lucid guide
“At first we heard strange noises on the first floor. We thought maybe a noisy group had come…” the high school student named Islam Khalilov told Russian media, relayed by the Daily Mail. But soon he could see people running away, terrified. He himself saw a man being shot down in front of his eyes by one of the terrorists. “Honestly, it was very scary,” he shared, still in shock.
Despite everything, the teenager was able to find the strength to react. He notably noticed that a group of spectators, who had left the room in a hurry, were heading towards a dead end. The young man, who knows the place well, was able to guide them to an exit. “We were shown and told where to send people in the event of an incident. I knew where to take people to make them safe,” he said. “I didn’t leave anyone behind,” he assures Russian television Zvezda News.
The young man rewarded
Very courageous, the 15-year-old boy escorted the group and brought up the rear, to ensure that no one was left behind. “When I was in the crowd and walked towards the door to open it, I thought that terrorists might come out of the stairs or escalators and throw a grenade or open fire fatally. Thank God nothing happened,” Islam said.
His act of bravery was applauded by the group, as evidenced by images of the scene posted on social networks. Later, the high school student was also celebrated by Spartak Moscow, his favorite football club, and received a medal from the Russian leader of Muslims, adds BFMTV. He should be decorated, with his comrade, by the country’s authorities in the coming days.