NewsDeadly concert hall attack near Moscow claims over 60 lives
Deadly concert hall attack near Moscow claims over 60 lives
3:39 AM EDT, March 23, 2024
Over 60 people were killed, and 115 were injured in a shooting at the Crocus City Hall concert venue in Krasnogorsk, on the outskirts of Moscow. According to the Mash and Baza channels, the assailants fired dozens of shots from automatic weapons. The building has caught fire and is beginning to collapse.
Before a concert by the band Piknik at Crocus City Hall in Krasnogorsk, just outside Moscow, armed men invaded the building on Friday. An explosion followed, sparking a blaze.
Witnesses of the attack in Krasnogorsk reported that the shooting started in the line to enter the venue and continued inside the concert hall. They described the attackers as armed with automatic rifles, flamethrowers, and various types of ammunition, as reported by the Ważnyje Istorii portal.
According to Ksenia Miszonova, the children's rights ombudsman for the Moscow region, children are among the wounded. The building was hosting children's dance competitions that day, as reported by the independent television channel Dożd.
Rapid response teams and the National Guard are on the scene. The fire reportedly blocked the escape routes for many attendees. Security at Moscow's Domodedovo and Vnukovo airports has been beefed up. The Mayor of Moscow has canceled all large-scale events scheduled for this weekend in response to the tragedy.
A recording released by Mash shows the initial moments after the attack, with screams heard as people flee the partially filled hall.
Another recording by the Astra channel captures the sound of dozens of shots being fired.
The blaze led to the building's roof starting to cave in. There might still be people trapped inside. Approximately 100 individuals managed to escape from the basement.
The governor of the Moscow region announced that an operational headquarters has been set up at the scene.
An explosion rocked the building shortly after the gunfire.
Russian independent media have pointed out that two weeks prior to the attack, the US embassy in Russia warned of plans for attacks by "extremists" in Moscow, including at concerts. Vladimir Putin commented that it seemed like "blackmail and an attempt to intimidate and destabilize" Russian society.
Who is responsible for the attack in Russia?
Late into the evening, the so-called Islamic State claimed responsibility for the attack.
The so-called Islamic State (ISIS) took responsibility for the attack on the concert hall near Moscow on Friday, as reported by Reuters citing a Telegram channel of the terrorist group. However, the claim did not include any evidence to support these assertions.
It has been noted that the statement "used a template that ISIS no longer employs."
