The Russian news agency Tass reported this early Saturday morning, citing Russia’s State Investigative Committee. Special forces of the Russian National Guard were at the Crocus City Hall in the city of Krasnogorsk in the Moscow Region searching for the perpetrators. The terrorist militia Islamic State has claimed responsibility for the attack.
It is not yet known how many attackers there were. Videos show people running for their lives. The background to the attack is also still unclear. The investigative committee has started proceedings regarding a suspected act of terrorism, as the authority announced on the Telegram news service.
The terrorist militia Islamic State claimed responsibility for the attack, as the IS mouthpiece Amak reported on the Internet on Friday, citing unnamed sources. Experts assume that this letter of confession is genuine.
According to authorities, there were shots and explosions in the event hall on Friday evening. The Russian Prosecutor General’s Office said several unknown assailants wearing camouflage-colored clothing stormed the Crocus City Hall shortly before a concert by the rock group Piknik and opened fire. Western embassies had recently warned of terrorist attacks in Moscow. The Kremlin had described this as a provocation by the West and is now criticizing the fact that more detailed information was not shared with Russia.
Several children injured
The Russian Ministry of Civil Defense said that the building, which also houses a concert hall with thousands of seats, was engulfed in flames over an area of 13,000 square meters. Firefighting helicopters were also used. Blazing flames and a huge cloud of smoke could be seen on the building. The roof is said to have collapsed. Dozens of ambulances and many buses were deployed to bring people to safety. The situation was confusing for hours. The Russian Ministry of Health said 145 people were injured, including children. 115 of them were taken to hospitals. Around 60 adults were seriously injured.
The Crocus City Hall has several event halls that are also used for trade fairs. It is one of the most popular leisure spots for Muscovites and those living in the surrounding areas of the Russian capital. Stars have appeared there again and again. There was supposed to be a concert by the Russian rock band Piknik on Friday evening.
According to the Kremlin, Russian President Vladimir Putin was informed about the events “from the first minute.” According to the Interfax agency, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said that he constantly receives all important information about what is happening and the measures taken via the relevant services.
The head of the Federation Council, the upper house of the Russian parliament, Valentina Matviyenko, threatened the masterminds of the attack with retaliation. “Those behind this terrible crime will receive the deserved and inevitable punishment,” she wrote on her Telegram channel. At the same time, she announced, the state would do everything it could to help those left behind.
The Ukrainian Foreign Ministry rejected suspicions of Ukrainian involvement. In an initial reaction, the USA also warned not to establish any connection with Ukraine. “There is no evidence that Ukraine or Ukrainians had anything to do with the shooting,” US National Security Council communications director John Kirby said in Washington. Not much can be said about the details yet, but at this early stage we strongly advise against the assumption that there is a connection to Ukraine. The US State Department advised local American citizens to avoid large gatherings of people.
“Shocked and hurt”
The Russian Foreign Ministry has criticized the US for quickly exonerating Ukraine as the possible mastermind of the attack on the Moscow concert hall. It raises questions if the US were to draw such conclusions while the tragedy was still unfolding. Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said this on Russian television on Friday evening. “If the United States or any other country has reliable facts, they should provide them to the Russian side.” If there were no such facts, neither the White House nor anyone else would have the right to give advance absolution, Zakharova said.
The European Union condemned the attack. The EU is shocked and horrified, wrote EU Commission spokesman Peter Stano on the X platform (formerly Twitter). The EU condemns any attacks on civilians. “Our thoughts are with all affected Russian citizens.” UN Secretary-General António Guterres and the UN Security Council also condemned the attack.
As a consequence of the attack, all theaters and museums in Moscow will remain closed over the weekend, including world-famous ones such as the Tretyakov Gallery and the Pushkin Museum. Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin had previously said that all major events in Europe’s largest city had been canceled. The authorities also canceled mass events in the Moscow area.
In 2002, Chechen gunmen took control of 850 people in a musical theater. On the fourth day of the drama, the domestic secret service stunned the captors and the hostages with a gas. The terrorists were shot. 135 hostages died, most of them due to inadequate medical care.
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