© (Sergei VEDYASHKIN / Moskva News Agency / AFP)
The death toll rises in Moscow following the shootout that resulted in a huge fire on Friday evening in a concert hall on the outskirts of Moscow, where several gunmen broke in. The Jihadist group, Islamic State (Daesh) claimed responsibility for the attack.
The Islamic State group claimed responsibility for a deadly gun attack on a Moscow concert hall on Friday, which Russian authorities said killed at least 40 people.
IS fighters "attacked a large gathering... on the outskirts of the Russian capital Moscow", the group said in a statement on the Telegram messaging app.
At least 40 people were killed and more than 100 were wounded on Friday evening in this attack on a concert hall on the outskirts of Moscow, the security forces (FSB) said.
"The preliminary toll of the terrorist attack in the Crocus City Hall complex is currently 40 dead and more than 100 wounded," the FSB said, as quoted by Russian agencies.
Attackers dressed in camouflaged outfits entered the building, opened fire, and threw a grenade or incendiary bomb, according to a journalist for the RIA Novosti news agency who was at the scene.
Russia's foreign ministry called the incident a "terrorist attack" that had to be condemned.
Fire quickly spread through the Crocus City Hall, north of the Russian capital, where the theater can hold several thousand people and has staged several concerts by top international artists, according to the reports.
No details were given on casualties, but Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin confirmed there were deaths in what he called a "terrible tragedy" at the concert by Russian rock band Piknik.
Automatic gunfire was used on the audience, the RIA Novosti journalist reported.
"People who were in the hall were led to the ground to protect themselves from the shooting for 15 or 20 minutes," the journalist was quoted as saying.
People started crawling out when it was safe, the journalist reported, adding that security forces were at the scene.
About 100 people escaped through the theater basement while others were sheltering on the roof, the emergency services ministry said on its Telegram channel.
Telegram news channels Baza and Mash, which are close to security forces, showed video images of flames and black smoke pouring from the concert hall.
Other images showed two men walking through the hall, with at least one person left on the ground near the entrance. Spectators were also seen hiding behind seats or trying to escape.
Russia's foreign ministry spokeswoman, Maria Zakharova, said it had been a "terrorist attack."
"The whole international community must condemn this odious crime," she said on Telegram.
"I offer my condolences to the families of the dead," said Moscow's mayor as a major security operation was launched around the theater and nearby shopping mall.
Sobyanin said he had cancelled all public events in Moscow for the weekend.
TASS news agency said that SOBR, special police forces, and the OMON anti-riot squad had been sent to the Crocus hall.
It added that all the members of the rock band had been evacuated safely.
Orthodox church leader Patriarch Kirill was "praying for peace for the souls of the dead," said his spokesman, Vladimir Legoyda.
The US presidency called the attack "terrible" but said there was no immediate indication of any link to the war in Ukraine.
France denounced "heinous acts" and called for the attack to be fully investigated. The images reaching us from Moscow are terrible", reacted the French Foreign Ministry in a message posted on X. "Our thoughts are with the victims and wounded and the Russian people". "Our thoughts are with the victims, the injured and the Russian people.
Ukraine quickly denied any responsibility for the deadly attack. Ukraine had 'nothing to do' with the attack, presidential aide Mykhailo Podolyak said on Telegram. "Regarding the events in Crocus City in the Russian suburbs, where certain events took place today — some shootings, some terrorist actions by unidentified persons — let's be clear, Ukraine absolutely has nothing to do with these events," he said.
A group of Russian citizens fighting on the side of Ukraine also denied any responsibility for the attack.
The Freedom of Russia Legion, whose fighters are part of Ukraine's armed forces, said in a statement that "the Legion is not at war with peaceful Russians" and accused Russian security forces of planning the attack.
The main intelligence directorate of the Ukrainian defense ministry accused Russian secret services of planning the deadly attack.
"The terrorist attack in Moscow was a planned and deliberate provocation by the Russian special services on (Vladimir) Putin's orders," the service said on Telegram, adding that the aim was to "further escalate and expand the war" with Ukraine.
Moscow and other Russian cities have been the targets of previous attacks by Islamist groups but there have also been incidents without any clear political motive.
Earlier this month, the US embassy in Russia warned "extremists have imminent plans to target large gatherings in Moscow", including concerts.
In 2002, Chechen separatist fighters took 912 people hostage in a Moscow theatre, the Dubrovka, demanding the withdrawal of Russian troops from the region.
Special forces attacked the theatre to end the hostage taking and 130 people were killed, nearly all suffocated by a gas used by security forces to knock out the gunmen.
With AFP
The Islamic State group claimed responsibility for a deadly gun attack on a Moscow concert hall on Friday, which Russian authorities said killed at least 40 people.
IS fighters "attacked a large gathering... on the outskirts of the Russian capital Moscow", the group said in a statement on the Telegram messaging app.
At least 40 people were killed and more than 100 were wounded on Friday evening in this attack on a concert hall on the outskirts of Moscow, the security forces (FSB) said.
"The preliminary toll of the terrorist attack in the Crocus City Hall complex is currently 40 dead and more than 100 wounded," the FSB said, as quoted by Russian agencies.
Attaque meurtrière dans une salle de concerts près de Moscou pic.twitter.com/82cz5nmT9O
— Ici Beyrouth (@Icibeyrouthnews)Attaque meurtrière dans une salle de concerts près de Moscou pic.twitter.com/82cz5nmT9O
— Ici Beyrouth (@Icibeyrouthnews) March 22, 2024
Dressed in Camouflage Outfits
Attackers dressed in camouflaged outfits entered the building, opened fire, and threw a grenade or incendiary bomb, according to a journalist for the RIA Novosti news agency who was at the scene.
Russia's foreign ministry called the incident a "terrorist attack" that had to be condemned.
Fire quickly spread through the Crocus City Hall, north of the Russian capital, where the theater can hold several thousand people and has staged several concerts by top international artists, according to the reports.
No details were given on casualties, but Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin confirmed there were deaths in what he called a "terrible tragedy" at the concert by Russian rock band Piknik.
Automatic gunfire was used on the audience, the RIA Novosti journalist reported.
"People who were in the hall were led to the ground to protect themselves from the shooting for 15 or 20 minutes," the journalist was quoted as saying.
People started crawling out when it was safe, the journalist reported, adding that security forces were at the scene.
About 100 people escaped through the theater basement while others were sheltering on the roof, the emergency services ministry said on its Telegram channel.
Telegram news channels Baza and Mash, which are close to security forces, showed video images of flames and black smoke pouring from the concert hall.
Other images showed two men walking through the hall, with at least one person left on the ground near the entrance. Spectators were also seen hiding behind seats or trying to escape.
Tеrrоrrists shooting at people inside the music venue in Moscow and setting it on fire pic.twitter.com/h0MgZhgozA
— What the media hides. (@narrative_hole)
"Terrorist Attack"
Russia's foreign ministry spokeswoman, Maria Zakharova, said it had been a "terrorist attack."
"The whole international community must condemn this odious crime," she said on Telegram.
"I offer my condolences to the families of the dead," said Moscow's mayor as a major security operation was launched around the theater and nearby shopping mall.
Sobyanin said he had cancelled all public events in Moscow for the weekend.
TASS news agency said that SOBR, special police forces, and the OMON anti-riot squad had been sent to the Crocus hall.
It added that all the members of the rock band had been evacuated safely.
Orthodox church leader Patriarch Kirill was "praying for peace for the souls of the dead," said his spokesman, Vladimir Legoyda.
Foreign reactions
The US presidency called the attack "terrible" but said there was no immediate indication of any link to the war in Ukraine.
France denounced "heinous acts" and called for the attack to be fully investigated. The images reaching us from Moscow are terrible", reacted the French Foreign Ministry in a message posted on X. "Our thoughts are with the victims and wounded and the Russian people". "Our thoughts are with the victims, the injured and the Russian people.
Ukraine quickly denied any responsibility for the deadly attack. Ukraine had 'nothing to do' with the attack, presidential aide Mykhailo Podolyak said on Telegram. "Regarding the events in Crocus City in the Russian suburbs, where certain events took place today — some shootings, some terrorist actions by unidentified persons — let's be clear, Ukraine absolutely has nothing to do with these events," he said.
A group of Russian citizens fighting on the side of Ukraine also denied any responsibility for the attack.
The Freedom of Russia Legion, whose fighters are part of Ukraine's armed forces, said in a statement that "the Legion is not at war with peaceful Russians" and accused Russian security forces of planning the attack.
The main intelligence directorate of the Ukrainian defense ministry accused Russian secret services of planning the deadly attack.
"The terrorist attack in Moscow was a planned and deliberate provocation by the Russian special services on (Vladimir) Putin's orders," the service said on Telegram, adding that the aim was to "further escalate and expand the war" with Ukraine.
Previous warnings
Moscow and other Russian cities have been the targets of previous attacks by Islamist groups but there have also been incidents without any clear political motive.
Earlier this month, the US embassy in Russia warned "extremists have imminent plans to target large gatherings in Moscow", including concerts.
In 2002, Chechen separatist fighters took 912 people hostage in a Moscow theatre, the Dubrovka, demanding the withdrawal of Russian troops from the region.
Special forces attacked the theatre to end the hostage taking and 130 people were killed, nearly all suffocated by a gas used by security forces to knock out the gunmen.
With AFP
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