15-year-old hero saves more than 100 people in Moscow terrorist attack

A teenager led more than 100 people to safety during Friday’s terrorist attack at a Moscow theater. Russian media has hailed the teenager as a hero. He is Islam Khalilov, 15, who worked part-time in one of the dressing rooms at the Crocus Theater. Khalilov recounted the events of that terrifying evening to Ruptly TV channel.

The music venue, located just outside Moscow, was packed with people before a performance by the Russian rock band Picnic. At that time, a group of terrorists armed with rifles entered the building. They fired indiscriminately at the fleeing people and set the building on fire.

According to latest estimates, the attack claimed the lives of at least 137 people and injured about 180.

Khalilov told Ruptly that “it was when people started running from the escalators and the stairs” that he realized there was an emergency. The teenager said that at that point he acted on “instinct” and used his deep knowledge of the building to quickly arrange for the evacuation of guests to another building in the Crocus City complex.

“I started yelling all over the lobby, all over the Crocus Theater — 'Hey, there's a shooting! Everybody run to the exhibit!' — and I told them where to go and helped people,” he explained.

“There was a stampede and everyone was in shock at first. No one knew what to do or where to go,” said a cloakroom employee.

Khalilov added that he himself ran behind the entire group to make sure no one was left behind.

The teenager admitted he was “really scared” the entire time, but still tried to follow the instructions he had been given on how to evacuate guests in case of an emergency.

He told Ruptly that, at one point, he caught a glimpse of one of the terrorists.

“I saw a guy, he had a beard and was wearing a green suit, he was walking back and forth with an assault rifle in his hand,” the teenager recounted.

He also said he saw a man being shot dead by one of the attackers, adding that he “can’t stop thinking about it”.

The 15-year-old said he doesn't see himself as a hero, but is just doing his part.

When asked what helped him overcome his fear, Khalilov explained that “It is better to sacrifice yourself than to let hundreds of people die.”

After Khalilov's feat was reported by several Russian media outlets, his favorite football club, FC Spartak Moscow, invited him to a meeting and gave him free tickets to watch their matches.

Famous Russian rapper Morgenstern said he transferred 1,000,000 rubles ($11,000) to the teenager - something Khalilov confirmed to the media.

The leader of Russia's Muslim community, Mufti Ravil Guynutdin, announced that Khalilov would be awarded a medal in recognition of his bravery.