Teen Heroes Save Hundreds at Moscow Concert Attack

Quick Smiles:

• Two young heroes, Islam Khalilov, 15, and Artyom Donskoy, 14, saved hundreds of concertgoers during a terrorist attack at Moscow’s Crocus City Hall.
• The brave teens were working as cloakroom attendants and guided attendees away from danger, ensuring no one was left behind.
• For their courageous actions, they were awarded medals for bravery and received recognition and rewards from various sources, including the Grand Mufti of Russia and a well-known Russian rapper.

In a world often filled with gloom, it’s uplifting to share a story of courage and selflessness. Two Russian schoolboys, Islam Khalilov and Artyom Donskoy, have been hailed as heroes for their quick thinking and bravery during a recent terrorist attack at Moscow’s Crocus City Hall.

The boys, aged 15 and 14 respectively, were working as cloakroom attendants when the incident occurred. Their heroic actions resulted in the rescue of hundreds of fleeing concertgoers.

On March 22nd, the Crocus was stormed by gunmen who began firing on those attending a rock concert and setting fire to the theater. Khalilov, an immigrant from the Central Asian nation of Kyrgyzstan, initially thought that some workers were doing “noisy” repair work in the hall. However, he quickly realized something was wrong when people came running.

Together with Donskoy, Khalilov sprang into action. They led the fleeing attendees away from dead-end hallways and locked maintenance doors, guiding them to safety through the exits.

“I understood that if I didn’t react, many people including me would lose their lives,” Islam said. He added that he was the last to exit the venue, “so that I didn’t leave anyone behind”.

The attack is believed to have been perpetrated by four men from the majority-Muslim country of Tajikistan. Despite the grim circumstances, the actions of these two young boys have been a beacon of hope.

The Grand Mufti of Russia, an important Islamic religious leader named Ravil Gaynutdin, announced that young Khalilov, who is also a Muslim, would be presented with the Medal of Muslims of Russia during Friday prayers this week.

In addition to this honor, a reward was also forthcoming to the young man from a well-known Russian rapper. He expressed his gratitude by promising to send the boy 1 million roubles ($10,900) as a thank you.

These two young heroes have shown us that courage and selflessness can shine even in the darkest of times. Their actions are a testament to the power of bravery and the human spirit. So, let’s share the heroic actions of these boys who left no one behind…

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