The Islamic State (ISIS) claimed responsibility for a brazen attack on Moscow's Crocus City Hall that left at least 60 people dead and more than 145 injured.
On Friday night, at least five gunmen wearing automatic rifles and wearing camouflage uniforms burst into a packed concert hall in the city's western suburbs, where a crowd had gathered to see veteran rock band Picnic, and attacked the crowd. The gun was fired, detonating the explosives and causing a large fire. .
Russian investigators said more than 60 people were killed. According to health authorities, about 145 people were injured, of whom about 60 are in critical condition.
ISIL, the hardline group that once sought control of Iraq and Syria, claimed responsibility for the attack on its Telegram channel and said its militants had fled. We were unable to independently verify this claim.
This concert hall is one of the most popular in Moscow and can accommodate approximately 6,200 people.
Alexei, a music producer, said he was settling into a seat in the front when he heard “many machine gun bursts” and “a lot of screams.”
“I immediately understood that it was automatic gunfire and that this was probably the worst terrorist attack,” Alexei told AFP news agency, without giving his full name.
He added that as people ran for the emergency exits, there were “terrible clashes” with concertgoers climbing over each other's heads to get out.
Another witness also told Reuters of fear and panic inside the venue.
“The stampede started. Everyone ran to the escalator,” they said, refusing to give their names. “Everyone was screaming. Everyone was running.”
The attack, which left the concert hall ablaze and its roof collapsed, was one of Russia's worst since the Beslan school siege in 2004, when more than 330 people were killed, half of them children. Unconfirmed reports suggest the death toll is likely to rise.
Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin said Friday's attack was a “huge tragedy.” Spokesman Dmitry Peskov said President Vladimir Putin was kept continuously updated on the situation.
“Act of terrorism”
Prosecutors said several men in combat fatigues entered a concert hall next to the Moscow Ring Road, about 20 kilometers (12 miles) from the Kremlin, and opened fire on those inside. Announced.
Repeated gunshots could be heard in videos posted on Russian media and Telegram channels. One of the images showed two men carrying rifles moving through the venue. Another video showed a man in the auditorium saying the attackers had set the fire, as gunshots rang out repeatedly in the background.
Up to four assailants armed with assault rifles and wearing hats appeared, some shooting the screaming people at close range.
Security guards at the concert hall were unarmed, and Russian media reported that several people may have been killed when the attack began.
ISIL claimed responsibility in a statement published by the country's Amaq news agency, saying its fighters attacked a Moscow suburb, “causing hundreds of casualties and causing extensive destruction in the area before safely retreating to their base.” Stated. The statement did not provide further details.
Russia has reported multiple incidents involving ISIL this month, with authorities saying the rebels killed six people suspected of being members of the group in a gunfight in the Caucasus region of Ingushetia, and the FSB on March 7. The Afghan branch of ISIL (ISKP) announced at a synagogue in Moscow that it had foiled an attack by Islamic State in Khorasan province on Sunday.
The United States has also warned of the growing threat. Hours after the FSB's announcement, the US embassy in Moscow issued a warning that “extremists” were planning an imminent attack in Moscow. On Friday night, a U.S. official said the U.S. government had information supporting ISIL's claim of responsibility for the attack on Crocus City Hall.
Earlier, Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said what happened was a “bloody terrorist attack.” An investigator from the Russian Investigative Committee for Serious Crimes said, “We have opened a criminal investigation based on Article 205 of the Criminal Code.'' [terrorist act]”.
The attack drew condemnation from around the world.
UN Secretary-General António Guterres expressed shock at the attack, with his spokesperson saying it “condemns in the strongest possible terms” and the UN Security Council calling it a “heinous and cowardly terrorist attack”. blamed things.
The Elysée Palace announced that French President Emmanuel Macron “strongly condemns the terrorist attack by Islamic State.”
“France expresses its solidarity with the victims and their loved ones and with the entire Russian people.”
Spain said it was “shocked” by the events in Moscow, and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni denounced it as an “abhorrent act of terrorism” and offered “full condolences to those affected and the families of the victims.” expressed solidarity.
Russian officials said security has been stepped up at Moscow's airports, train stations and subways. The mayor has canceled all large gatherings and ordered theaters and museums in the region, home to more than 21 million people, to close for the weekend. Other regions of Russia also tightened security.
enveloped in flames
The Kremlin did not immediately blame anyone for the attack, but some Russian lawmakers were quick to blame Ukraine.
Former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev wrote on the Telegram app that if the attackers turned out to be Ukrainians, “all of them must be discovered and brutally eliminated as terrorists.”
Mykhailo Podlyak, an adviser to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, denied any involvement by Ukraine.
“Ukraine has never resorted to the use of terrorist means. Everything in this war will be decided only on the battlefield,” he posted on X.
Russia's National Guard Rochevardia said it was searching for the perpetrators of the attack and that its forces were helping evacuate concertgoers from the burning building.
Rescue teams evacuated about 100 people from the basement of Crocus City Hall, but there were still people on the roof, Russian news agencies reported.
According to media reports, black smoke rose into the sky above the venue and firefighters were working to extinguish the fire.
Helicopters were also called in to quell the flames that had engulfed the building.
Early Saturday morning, authorities said the fire was largely extinguished.
“There are still some places where fire broke out, but the fire has almost been extinguished. Rescue workers were able to enter the auditorium,” Moscow Governor Andrei Vorobyov said in a telegram.
