South African Students, Embassy Members Safe After Russia Concert Hall Attack

The Department of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO) confirmed on Sunday that all South African embassy staff members and students studying in Russia are safe following the terrorist attack at Moscow's Crocus City Hall.

"The South African Embassy staff in Moscow, including local recruited personnel, are all accounted for. All South African students that we know of in Moscow are safe. The South African government condemns this attack and all acts of terror," the department's spokesperson Clayson Monyela said, SA News reported.

He added, "Condolences to the families of the victims and we wish the injured a speedy recovery. We will continue to monitor the situation and share updates."

According to multiple media reports, the attack took place on Friday leading to the death of 137 people and injuring around 150.

Four men named Saidakrami Murodali Rachabalizoda, Dalerdzhon Barotovich Mirzoyev, Shamsidin Fariduni and Muhammadsobir Fayzov were presented in the court on Sunday for this brutal attack. These men are officially identified as citizens of Tajikistan and all of them pleaded guilty, as per The Guardian.

Following Friday's incident, Russians mourned across the country. Thousands of people gathered near Crocus City Hall in Krasnogorsk with flowers and other tributes.

Russian Embassy in South Africa took to X (formerly known as Twitter) on Sunday to share a series of photos and a video - showing the number of people gathered to mourn the tragic incident.

"On March 24, the day of national mourning in Russia, the projection "The Cranes Are Flying" appeared on the Crocus City Hall building," the embassy wrote. "An endless wedge of cranes rose from the base of the building and flew into the sky."

It added, "This is how Moscow honored the memory of those who died during the terrorist attack at the concert complex on March 22."

In a separate post, President of Russia Vladimir Putin can be seen with a candle in a church in remembrance of those killed as a result of the terrorist attack in Crocus City Hall.

This is the deadliest attack on Russia since the 2004 Beslan school siege, which recorded the death of more than 300 people including children.