Friday night’s terrorist attack on the Crocus City concert hall and shopping mall in Moscow, Russia, reportedly left “more than 100 casualties,” although the attack was reportedly not over at press time. Agency RT reported report.
Updated at 4:08 PM ET: Russian FSB Security Service announced At least 40 people were recorded killed and over 100 injured in the attack.
Reports in Russian media said at least three gunmen took part in the attack. Terrorists wearing camouflage uniforms reportedly stormed the venue and, according to some reports, opened fire on the audience inside the concert hall with automatic weapons. The terrorists also reportedly detonated a grenade and set fire to the Crocus City complex.
The scale of the fire was so large that the Russian government deployed RIA Novosti news agency said a water cannon helicopter had arrived and two more were preparing to fly in to end the situation.
Videos on social media shared by Russian media outlets, including RT, Rianovosti and Sputnik, showed panicked concertgoers trying to hide under seats and under the sound of gunfire.report shown One of the attackers detonated a grenade, sparking a fire.
“They’re shooting with machine guns, they’re shooting in the crowd!”
Eerie footage from Moscow’s Crocus City Hall, where the shooting took place. There are tentative deaths and injuries. pic.twitter.com/oyStGMDtbL
— Sputnik (@SputnikInt) March 22, 2024
⚡️ At least three men wearing camouflage uniforms opened fire at Crocus Town Hall, a popular concert venue on the outskirts of Moscow, the state-run RIA Novosti news agency reported.
At least 12 people were reportedly killed and 35 injured, the Baza Telegram channel said. pic.twitter.com/YvfouAA7U5
— Moscow Times (@MoscowTimes) March 22, 2024
Reports of an explosion at Crocus City Hall in Moscow are appearing on social media. pic.twitter.com/N1KATRCbRC
— Sputnik (@SputnikInt) March 22, 2024
320 320 320 130 130 130https://t.co/2aGwWzSZOx pic.twitter.com/SOiSdsH04L
— РИА Новости (@rianru) March 22, 2024
“People who were at the venue lay down on the ground to avoid the fire and remained there for 15-20 minutes, but then began to crawl out. Many managed to escape,” Russian news agency Sputnik said. report. Sputnik said at least 100 people had been evacuated, but Russia’s health ministry said more than 70 ambulances were responding, suggesting a huge number of casualties. .
At the time of writing, the latest information from RT states that the terrorists “have reportedly barricaded themselves inside a burning building. The group is apparently attempting to take hostages or make some kind of statement.” Instead, they shot and killed people on sight.” The attackers were on the run inside the complex as of press time.
Updated at 4:09pm ET: RT reports that one suspect was taken alive.
Crocus City was hosting a concert Friday by progressive rock band Picnic. After Piknik performed a concert in occupied Crimea, Ukraine, he was banned from entering Ukraine, and the Ukrainian government banned him from entering the country.band declared They said they were “not concerned” about sanctions or politics over their accusations against Ukraine, and recalled that the Soviet Union had also blacklisted them.
According to multiple media reports, the band had not yet started playing at the time of the terrorist attack and everyone was safe.
Russian authorities have not issued any official statement condemning any individuals or groups over the incident.some reports shown Less than a week later, the U.S. Embassy in Moscow warned that there was intelligence suggesting terrorists would target concert venues in the near future. It was unclear at the time of writing whether this warning was prompted by threats against Crocus City or similar venues.
RIA Novosti too report Shortly before the terrorist attack, Russian law enforcement authorities arrested seven men suspected of trying to set up an armed cell to fight Russian forces in Ukraine. At the time of reporting, there were no reports from that news agency or anywhere else linking the bust to the Crocus City attack.
