Terrorist organization “Islamic State” alleged liability A horrific attack on civilians occurred at the Crocus Concert Hall in the Russian capital, Moscow.
Initial reports said four armed terrorists carried out a brutal assault at the concert hall, causing frightened attendees to flee. Videos on social media showed some of the carnage, including civilians being shot at close range.
Militants launched grenades and other explosives, causing the hall to catch fire. The roof of the building then caved in, and firefighters worked to extinguish the fire for several hours.
Officials said about 40 people were killed and another 146 injured in the brutal attack. It’s unclear what happened to the attackers after a massive law enforcement response.
Hours later, the terrorist group claimed responsibility for the rampage in a social media post and claimed its fighters had returned safely to their base, according to the Associated Press.
“The footage is simply horrifying and painful to watch,” National Security Council spokesman John Kirby told a news conference. “Of course, our thoughts are with the victims of this horrific shooting.”
Crocus is a popular shopping mall and concert venue located on the outskirts of Moscow.
In early March, the U.S. Embassy in Russia stated:
issued a warning Russia’s success in thwarting a terrorist plot against a Jewish synagogue in Moscow suggests an ISIS attack may be imminent.
“The embassy is monitoring reports that extremists have imminent plans to target large gatherings in Moscow, including concerts. U.S. citizens are advised not to attend large gatherings for the next 48 hours. should be advised to avoid,” the embassy statement said.
Kirby on Friday Said The previous warning was unrelated to the Crocus terrorist attack.
“I don’t think it’s related to this particular attack. I don’t know of anything that we knew beforehand about this horrific attack,” he told reporters.
new york times report U.S. officials said they confirmed that a branch of ISIS, the Afghanistan-based Islamic State Khorasan, was involved in the attack. The terrorist organization accuses Russia of shedding blood on its own hands as a result of previous military operations in Afghanistan, Syria and Chechnya.
Here are more details about the attack:
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