Hero teen attendant leads more than 100 people to safety in Moscow terror attack: ‘I didn’t leave anyone behind’
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A heroic 15-year-old cloakroom attendant saved more than 100 people when he quickly led them away from the terror attack that claimed at least 133 lives at Moscow’s Crocus City Hall, harrowing video shows.
Islam Khalilov, who works part-time in the cloakroom at the venue that was besieged by Islamic State gunmen Friday, is seen in a new viral video guiding panicked Picnic rock-band concert-goers to safety.
“That way, that way, that way!” Khalilov can be heard shouting as he leads scores of people down a hallway to an emergency exit. “Everybody go that way! Everybody over there! To the Expo, to the Expo!”
Khalilov said his “instincts kicked in,” with the teen warning attendees in the foyer to flee as he led them to an emergency exit.
“I showed them where to go and helped everyone I could,” the teen said, confirming that he was the last person from the group to exit the building.
“I didn’t leave anyone behind,” he said. “Honestly, I don’t consider myself a hero. It was just part of my job. Better to sacrifice yourself than let a hundred people die.”
The young man said both he and his mother are still stunned over the incident, revealing that a man was shot in front of him and that he was afraid he and the others would be blown up or gunned down by the terrorists.
“Mom was shocked and cried because I had to go through all this,” he told the Daily Mail. “That all this happened before my eyes. To be honest, I’m still in a state of shock. A man was shot right in front of me, I can’t stop thinking about it.”
The heroic teen is expected to receive honors from Russian law enforcement and Mufti Sheikh Ravil Gainutdin, the spiritual leader of Russian Muslims. The teen is Muslim.
The teen, an avid soccer fan, was also invited to meet with a member of his favorite sports club, the FC Spartak Moscow, who presented him with free passes to its games.
Moscow confirmed Saturday that a total of 11 people have been detained over the terror attack, with the Islamic State group’s affiliate in Afghanistan claiming responsibility.
Russian President Vladimir Putin described the massacre as a “bloody, barbaric terrorist act,” as he declared Sunday a day of mourning in Russia.
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