Students at the Izhevsk school No. 88 and their parents spoke out about the shooting that took place at the educational institution on Monday morning.
According to one of the boys, he and his classmates hid in the classroom under desks and behind a cupboard.
“Everyone was scared, they screamed, they panicked. They sat in the office, beat on our door, beat with something metal, a pistol, most likely,” the student added.
Olga, the mother of one of the students, said that her daughter had sent her a message. The woman thought it was a joke, but later received a call from the Ministry of Emergency Situations.
“They (students) were slowly released and evacuated. Many wounded children were carried out before our eyes,” the woman said.
Earlier, the press service of the Investigative Committee of the Russian Federation reported that the number of victims of the shooting increased to 39 people.
“To date, investigators of the Russian Investigative Committee have established that 39 people were injured as a result of the crime, 15 of them died, including 11 children and four adults,” the ministry said in a statement.
The department also clarified that 24 victims were injured, including 22 children and two adults.
According to the committee, the identity of the attacker has been established as Artem Kazantsev, a graduate of the school, born in 1988. The shooter’s residence has been searched.
“The identity of the attacker, his views and surroundings are being studied. His adherence to neo-fascist views and Nazi ideology is being checked,” the department added.
The Investigative Committee opened a criminal case on “the murder of two or more persons, including minors.” The case was referred for investigation to the central office of the department.
Russian President Vladimir Putin expressed deep condolences to the families and friends of the victims.
“The President expresses deep condolences to everyone who lost their loved ones, their children in this tragedy, and wishes a recovery to those who were injured as a result of this inhuman terrorist act,” the Kremlin’s press service said.
