Hearing the news that the terrorist attack left more than 100 people in critical condition, many Vietnamese people lined up for hours in the cold rain to donate blood to help the victims and raise money to support.
Near the time of the concert called Fear Nothing by the band Picnic at the Crocus City Hall Theater in Krasnogorsk, Moscow Oblast, on the evening of March 22, a group of people arrived in a minivan, armed with AK rifles, and opened fire on anyone they encountered. The terrorists then poured gasoline on the theater and set it on fire, causing a huge fire to engulf the theater.
Much of the roof of the theater collapsed, burying many of the victims. The Russian Investigative Committee reported 133 deaths. More than 100 people are being treated in hospital, many in critical condition.
Blood testing stations are usually closed on weekends, but due to the emergency, doctors were summoned and spread out to many hospitals the next morning, March 23.
Responding to the call, many people spent hours lining up outside hospitals, waiting to be tested and donate blood to save the victims, including Vietnamese people. The temperature in Moscow on March 23 was below 5 degrees Celsius and it was raining.
People lined up in the rain to donate blood to save the injured victims of the terrorist attack at the Crocus City Hall theater in Russia on the morning of March 23. Photo: KP
Hearing about the terrorist attack, Dr. Nguyen Dinh Bao from Moscow went to the Lyubersu hospital's blood donation station and donated 450 ml of blood "without waiting for the authorities to call". The doctor said the line was very long and people had to wait at least 2-3 hours.
"There are many volunteers providing food and warm tea to donors at the locations. Unfortunately, many overseas Vietnamese feel sorry for the Russians and want to donate blood but do not meet the criteria due to many conditions," Dr. Bao, 31, head of the Vietnamese student community health department in Russia, told VnExpress .
Thirty kilometers from the theater, Ms. Thuy, 30 years old, and her daughter lined up for nearly five hours in the cold rain after hearing about the tragedy, but were not eligible due to their low weight.
"They wouldn't let me donate even when I begged them, but they were very grateful and expressed their gratitude for the Vietnamese people's kindness," she said. Doctor Bao listed some conditions for donating blood such as having permanent residence in Russia, weighing over 50 kg, not having infectious diseases, not drinking alcohol 2 days before blood is drawn, not smoking 2 hours before, etc.
In addition to donating blood, dozens of Vietnamese people also sent money to the official fund to support the victims of the Sberbank bank. "It's a small gift, but a big heart. My condolences to the victims' families and I hope the injured recover quickly," said Ms. Xuyen, who donated $50.
Moscow health officials said nearly 3,000 people donated blood on March 23, collecting nearly 1,000 liters of blood.
A woman cries as she mourns the victims of the shooting, outside the barricades surrounding the scene. Photo: AFP
This is the deadliest attack in Russia in nearly two decades. Vietnam sent a message of condolences to Russia, expressing "deep shock at receiving information about the barbaric terrorist attack". The United Nations and a number of other countries also strongly condemned the incident.
"It can only be described in one word: Scary! People don't gamble with their lives like that," said Binh, 28, owner of the Vietnamese food store Чay Shop in Moscow.
Before the terrorist attack, Binh planned to take the subway home. After hearing about the terrorist attack in the suburbs, he immediately took a taxi. "Taxi fares tripled due to the sudden increase in demand," Binh said.
That evening, Dr. Bao was working at the Sechenov Moscow State Medical University Hospital. He was shocked when his relatives told him the news and urged him to return home soon. On his way to work the next morning, Mr. Bao said that the authorities had tightened security, setting up many police checkpoints and vehicle control points. Many Russians were uneasy and limited their gatherings in public places.
All public events in Moscow have been suspended, and students are taking online classes. Dr. Bao’s family also plans to limit gatherings in crowded places and temporarily order food delivery.
A display of lit candles in memory of the victims of the terrorist attack on a street in Moscow, March 23. Photo: AFP
In recent years, similar attacks have seemingly disappeared, thanks in part to a series of counter-insurgency operations carried out by Russian security forces over many years.
Observers believe the Crocus Theatre was chosen as the target because it is a crowded area for art lovers and because security is not as high as in central Moscow. The Crocus City Hall Theatre is located in a large shopping complex, about 20 km from the Kremlin.
Location of Crocus City Hall theater in the suburbs of Moscow, the capital of Russia. Graphics: FT
Many overseas Vietnamese in Moscow expressed their confidence in the security work. "Despite the shock, the work of ensuring safety in the center of the capital is very good, security is very high. The Russian Federal Security Service (FSB) also quickly identified and successfully arrested the suspects," the doctor said.
The FSB has arrested 11 people in connection with the attack, including four who were directly involved. All four main suspects are currently being held in the Bryansk region, which borders Ukraine. Russian President Vladimir Putin has announced increased security and counter-terrorism and sabotage measures in Moscow and all regions of the country.
Phan Manh Hung, 56, owner of a sportswear business in Moscow, also maintained his faith in the security work in the capital. On the morning of March 23, Mr. Hung was busy with work, but his son went to donate blood.
"Vietnamese traders are still operating normally. Many people have started to switch to online sales, so the impact of the terrorist attack is not great," said Mr. Hung.
"Life has not been disrupted, but when I go out in the morning and see screens everywhere displaying tributes to the victims, I have never seen such a sad scene," said Ms. Xuyen, a merchant in Moscow. "I just hope that the victims' relatives and Russia will soon overcome this pain."
Duc Trung
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