More than 90 people were killed and 115 injured in a shooting followed by a massive fire on Friday night at a concert hall in the suburbs of the Russian capital. ISIS claimed responsibility for the attack. Russian security confirmed that they are "searching" for the attackers, while the Investigative Committee stated that "the remains of the deceased are being examined." It has been temporarily confirmed that the terrorist attack resulted in over 60 fatalities, but unfortunately, the death toll may rise, according to Russian news agencies.
Hours after the attack, the United States announced it had warned Russia in March about a potential terrorist attack against "large gatherings" in Moscow, as stated by the White House on Friday. Russian President Vladimir Putin held discussions with law enforcement and rescue officials on Saturday following the attack. Russian news agencies reported that Putin received reports from the head of security, the Investigative Committee, the National Guard, and the ministers of interior, health, and emergency situations.
ISIS, which has targeted Russia several times, announced in a statement on Telegram that its fighters "attacked a large gathering... in the vicinity of the Russian capital, Moscow." The organization claimed that its fighters "withdrawn to their bases safely." Health Minister Mikhail Murashko later stated that 115 people were hospitalized, including five children. Among the injured, there are 60 adults and one minor in critical condition.
Condemning this "bloody terrorist act" and "atrocious crime," the spokesperson for the Russian Foreign Ministry, Maria Zakharova, expressed outrage as the committee tasked with major criminal investigations in the country announced that it had "opened a criminal investigation into the terrorist act."
The attack, first reported by Russian media around 8:15 PM (15:30 GMT), was carried out by a number of gunmen at Crocus City Hall, a concert venue located in Krasnogorsk at the northwestern exit of the capital. A major fire engulfed the building, with columns of black smoke rising from its roof and a significant presence of police and emergency services. The fire spread to nearly 13,000 square meters of the building before it was contained, according to emergency services. However, by around 1 AM on Saturday (23:00 GMT Friday), the fire was still burning, according to the ministry, which used helicopters for firefighting operations.
Russian television reported that part of the building's roof had collapsed. There was no information on the number of people who might be trapped inside.
Strengthening security measures, presidential spokesperson Dmitry Peskov stated that Putin was receiving "constant" updates on the attack and had been informed "from the first minutes" after it occurred. According to the Russian Ministry of Emergencies, civil defense elements were able to evacuate about 100 people from the lower level of the concert hall, while operations were underway to "rescue people from the roof of the building using lifting equipment."
Moscow Mayor Sergey Sobyanin announced the cancellation of all public events, and major museums and theaters in the capital closed their doors. Security measures were also enhanced, particularly at airports, as reported by Russian television. The attack occurred during a concert by the Russian rock band "Piknik."
