ISIS on Friday claimed responsibility for the attack on a large concert hall in Russia’s Moscow region that left more than 60 people dead and nearly 150 injured.
The attack began when gunmen in combat fatigues burst into Crocus Town Hall, where concertgoers had gathered to listen to the Russian band Picnic, and opened fire.
According to Russian media, the gunmen threw explosives into the concert hall and set the building on fire during the attack.
People were evacuated, but some remained trapped in burning buildings, Russian media said.
Russia investigates concert hall shooting, explosion as terrorist attack
Russian Los Guardia (National Guard) soldiers respond to the attack. (Sergei Vedyashkin/Moscow News Agency, via AP)
The Islamic State group made the claim on its social media channels, and the United States said it had information to support it, according to multiple news organizations.
Before ISIS claimed responsibility, Russian officials said the incident was being investigated as a terrorist attack. However, he did not say who would be responsible.
Russia’s Investigative Committee announced that it had opened a criminal investigation into the attack.
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A massive fire broke out above Crocus City Hall in the west end of Moscow after an attack inside the building. (AP Photo/Dmitry Serebryakov)
Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin called the attack a “huge tragedy,” and former Russian President and current Deputy Chairman of the Security Council of the Russian Federation Dmitry Medvedev wrote on Telegram, “If the perpetrators of the attack had ties to the terrorists in Kiev. If Moscow discovers that there is,” he wrote.“The regime” and everything else [Ukrainians] They should be discovered and destroyed, including state officials. ”
Crocus City Hall was set on fire on Friday in an attack claimed by ISIS. (Sergei Vedyashkin/Moscow News Agency, via AP)
The attack occurred shortly after Russian President Vladimir Putin won re-election in a landslide. war in ukraineIt has been more than two years since Moscow invaded the country.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy denied Ukraine’s involvement before ISIS claimed responsibility.
“Ukraine certainly has nothing to do with the shooting and explosion at Crocus City Hall (Moscow region, Russia). It makes no sense at all,” he said on social media, adding in part, “There is no doubt whatsoever. ” he added. Events on the outskirts of Moscow will contribute to a sharp increase in military propaganda, accelerated militarization, increased mobilization and, ultimately, the spread of war. It would also justify outright genocidal attacks against Ukrainian civilians. ”
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Rebecca Koffler, a strategic military intelligence analyst and author of “Putin’s Playbook,” told Fox News Digital that “President Putin has been briefed on the attack and has contacted law enforcement and security agencies. I have given all the necessary instructions.” Press Secretary Dmitry Peskov. Russia is treating this as a terrorist attack. ”
Koffler said that before ISIS claimed territory, Russian officials had already blamed Ukraine for the attack.
Russia’s Ministry of Culture has canceled all mass and entertainment events in the region for the next few days.
In addition to the cancellation of all sports, cultural and other large-scale events in Moscow this weekend, restrictive measures have been introduced in many regions, including Leningrad, Voronezh, Vologda and other regions, Kofler added. .
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
