Brave 15-Year-Old Boy Saves Hundreds of Lives
On March 22nd, a terror attack involving guns and explosives targeted the Crocus City complex near Moscow, Russia’s capital, resulting in devastating consequences. According to Andrei Vorobyov, the Governor of the Moscow region, 133 bodies were found at the scene, with 107 individuals in critical condition. Meanwhile, Margarita Simonyan, a journalist from RT, states that the death toll has risen to 143.
The casualty count could have been even higher if it weren’t for the courageous actions of 15-year-old Islam Khalilov, described by the Russian media as a “hero who saved hundreds of lives.”
Islam, who worked as a logistics employee at the Crocus City complex for about a year, arrived at his workplace on March 23rd. Shortly after, he noticed something unusual.
“I first heard strange noises on the first floor. Initially, myself and everyone else thought it was just noise from some company,” Islam reminisced.
However, the young boy quickly realized the gravity of the situation as hundreds of people rushed towards the staircases and elevators. Gunshots could be heard all around. Despite feeling terrified, Islam understood that he had to take action. Despite numerous exits in Crocus City, most of them were locked. Nevertheless, Islam acted swiftly.
“I knew that if I didn’t do something, many people would die. Honestly, I was very scared. In the middle of the crowd, I was afraid people might fall because it was too crowded on the stairs. At that moment, it seemed like someone even threw a grenade or something. Thanks to God, nothing regrettable happened. I could open the door and help everyone escape,” Islam recalled.
According to Islam, he opened the door and waited for the last person to escape before leaving himself. Although he couldn’t estimate the exact number of people he helped evacuate, he believed it was around 100. Upon joining Crocus, Islam received detailed instructions on safe locations for audience evacuation during emergencies. He fulfilled his duty admirably.
Now, Islam has returned to his family, embraced by their loving arms. “My mother was shocked and started crying when she learned what I had gone through. At this moment, I still can’t forget what happened. A man was shot right in front of me, and I can’t forget it,” Islam recounted.
On 360TV, Islam’s father remarked that he wasn’t surprised by his son’s actions. He said Islam is a brave young boy who inherited this attribute from his grandfather.
“As citizens, we have a responsibility to do these things. I’m not surprised by my son’s actions. On the other hand, we feel sorry that our son couldn’t help even more,” his father said.
The police have arrested several individuals related to the terror attack on March 22nd. Gunmen opened fire and detonated explosives, causing a large-scale fire. An estimated 6,200 people were inside Crocus City at the time of the attack. The police have apprehended eleven individuals in connection with the incident, including four direct suspects.
Photo: Reuters, Ria, Tổng hợp