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‘It was very chaotic’: Chinese students in Moscow share harrowing accounts of concert hall shooting

  • Pianist from China survives terrorist attack by hiding under seat, while another student flees after hearing what sounded like ‘firecrackers’
  • Terrorist group Islamic State claims responsibility for gun rampage that killed more than 130 at a music venue in Russian capital

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Yiming Chen, a Chinese student in Russia, recounts his experience of being near the location of Friday’s mass shooting outside Moscow. Photo: CGTN
Two Chinese students have given harrowing first-hand accounts of a terrorist attack at a Moscow concert hall where more than 130 people were killed on Friday.
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Four gunmen in camouflage uniforms opened fire at the Crocus City Hall on the outskirts of Moscow and ignited an inferno. Terrorist group Islamic State (Isis) claimed responsibility for the attack.

A pianist from the northern province of Hebei told Chongqing-based media outlet Shangyou News that he dodged the bullets by hiding under his seat in the last row, but his local companion was killed.

“I was seated on the last row and crouched under the seat when I realised something was wrong,” the student identified only as He was quoted as saying.

“The gunmen were outside and had not yet entered the concert hall. Many audience members wanted to run for their lives. It was very chaotic,” he said.

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“Some people were yelling, some wanted to run out, and some were swearing. I was very scared and did not dare to move. So I stayed under the seat.”

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