Video shows scene of shooting at concert hall near Moscow
ISIS Claimed that Asserting accountability for an assault at a well-attended concert hall complex near Moscow on Friday, individuals armed with firearms and incendiary devices breached the venue, resulting in the deaths of a minimum of 60 individuals and injuries to 145.
The terror group took responsibility for the attack in a short statement published by ISIS-affiliated news agency Amaq on Telegram on Friday. It did not provide evidence to support the claim.
Footage captured at Crocus City Hall depicts the extensive compound, housing both a music hall and a shopping center, engulfed in flames, with smoke rising into the sky. According to state-operated RIA Novosti, the armed assailants initiated gunfire with automatic weapons and purportedly hurled a grenade or an incendiary bomb, igniting the blaze. Subsequently, they purportedly fled the scene in a white Renault car, as detailed by the news agency.
According to state broadcaster Russia 24, the roof of the venue suffered partial collapse due to the intensity of the attack.
After more than six hours, authorities managed to largely contain the fire. Moscow governor Andrey Vorobyov conveyed through Telegram that while some isolated fires persisted, the main blaze had been largely extinguished.
This devastating incident marks the deadliest terrorist assault on Moscow in decades, occurring shortly after President Vladimir Putin secured another term in office following a heavily orchestrated election. Putin had emphasized national security amid the ongoing conflict with neighboring Ukraine in the lead-up to the polls.
The tragic events unfolded just before a scheduled concert by the band Picnic, as confirmed by Russia 24. The Prosecutor General's Office, as reported by TASS, stated that unidentified individuals dressed in camouflage attire forcibly entered Crocus City Hall and commenced shooting prior to the concert's commencement.
Russia is grappling with the aftermath of its most devastating terrorist assault in many years.
Close to ten individuals have been apprehended in relation to the tragedy, where gunmen invaded a well-known concert hall compound on the fringes of the capital, claiming the lives of over 130 individuals.
Here's what we understand so far.
What Happened Exactly?
Assailants armed with firearms and incendiary devices launched an indiscriminate attack at the Crocus City complex, which houses both a renowned music hall and a bustling shopping center, on Friday night.
Despite crowds still streaming in, the auditorium was already brimming with concertgoers eagerly anticipating a performance by the band Picnic. With approximately 6,500 tickets sold for the show, the atmosphere was set for a night of music and enjoyment. However, the evening took a terrifying turn as chaos erupted.
Videos captured by panicked eyewitnesses depict the harrowing moment when individuals clad in camouflage attire, armed with automatic weapons, began firing randomly. In the footage, screams reverberate through the hall as attendees scramble for cover behind cushioned seats or huddle together, seeking safety from the gunfire.
Amidst the mayhem, a group near a large wall of windows outside the venue resorted to breaking through them to escape the onslaught, as revealed in video footage obtained by CNN.
An unnamed male survivor recounted the ordeal, stating that the gunmen entered the concert hall and commenced firing indiscriminately. Speaking in an interview with Ostorozhno Novosti, published by Reuters, he described how the initial gunshots left them bewildered, followed by the horror of Molotov cocktails being thrown, igniting chaos and panic.
Fortunately, the band's manager later confirmed to state media that the performers emerged unscathed from the ordeal.
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| Law enforcement officers outside the burning Crocus City Hall concert venue following the attack on Friday. |
Approximately 100 individuals were safely evacuated from the premises by firefighters, as reported by TASS.
Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin condemned the attack as a "terrible tragedy" and extended his condolences to the families of the victims. In a statement, Sobyanin assured that all necessary assistance would be provided to those affected by the incident.
Via Telegram, Sobyanin announced the cancellation of all sports, cultural, and public events scheduled in Moscow for the weekend.
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| This screen grab from video shows armed men inside the Crocus City Hall concert venue in Russia's Moscow region |
The manager of Picnic affirmed to state media that the band members emerged unscathed from the ordeal.
Shaman, the band's vocalist, pledged to cover the expenses for the funerals of the victims and the treatment of the injured. In a video message shared on the Russian social media platform Vkontakte to his vast following of over 600,000 followers, Shaman emphasized solidarity and resilience in the face of adversity. He underscored the unity of the nation during times of hardship, stating, "We are all one big family. And in a family there is no such thing as somebody else’s grief. My people, any troubles and misfortunes have always united our country. They have made Russia tougher and stronger. It will not be possible to frighten and break us this time either."
How Many have been Hurt?
As of the latest update provided by Russia's Investigative Committee on Saturday, the death toll at the expansive complex stands at a minimum of 133 individuals. Authorities anticipate this number to increase as emergency personnel continue to sift through the aftermath.
Moreover, over 100 individuals sustained injuries during the incident, with a significant portion of them in critical condition, including two minors.
Moscow region Governor Andrey Vorobyov announced on Saturday that financial assistance would be extended to the victims of the terrorist attack by the regional and municipal administrations.
Families of the deceased will receive three million rubles ($32,500) each, while those currently hospitalized will be granted one million rubles ($10,840).
Vorobyov stated, "Children residing in the Moscow region who lost a parent in the tragedy will also be entitled to monthly stipends. Furthermore, we will cover all burial expenses and address any legal matters arising from the incident."
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| A woman lays flowers at a makeshift memorial on Saturday |
US had Warned of Potential Attack
Earlier in the current month, the US embassy in Russia issued a statement indicating its vigilance regarding reports of impending plans by extremists to target sizable assemblies in Moscow, specifically highlighting concerts. The embassy issued a cautionary advisory, urging US citizens to steer clear of such gatherings. Subsequently, upon receiving reports of the devastating attack at Crocus City Hall, the embassy escalated its advisory, strongly advising against travel to Russia for US citizens.
Starting in November, there has been a steady stream of intelligence that ISIS-K was determined to attack in Russia, according to two sources familiar with the information.
ISIS-K stands for ISIS-Khorasan, the terror organization's affiliate that is active in Afghanistan and the surrounding region.
According to Adrienne Watson, spokesperson for the US National Security Council, the US government possessed intelligence regarding a potential terrorist attack in Moscow, with a focus on targeting sizable assemblies, including concerts. This prompted the State Department to issue a public advisory. Watson emphasized that the US government adhered to its "duty to warn" policy by sharing this information with Russian authorities.
In a speech delivered on Tuesday, President Putin strongly criticized the American warnings, characterizing them as "provocative" and likening them to attempts of blackmail aimed at destabilizing Russian society.
In March alone, Russian authorities had thwarted several ISIS-related incidents, according to RIA. On March 3, RIA reported that six ISIS members were killed in a counter-terrorist operation in the Ingush Karabulak; on March 7, it said security services had uncovered and “neutralized” a cell of the banned organization Vilayat Khorasan in the Kaluga region, whose members were planning an attack on a synagogue in Moscow; and on March 20, it said the commander of an ISIS combat group had been detained.
A US official said Friday that Washington had no reason to doubt ISIS claim that it was responsible for the latest attack.
What Else Russia is Saying?
Putin conveyed his profound condolences in response to the shooting, denouncing it as a "bloody and barbaric act" in a video statement released on Saturday.
He expressed gratitude towards emergency service personnel for their courageous efforts in rescuing individuals from the scene of the attack, amidst the chaos of fire and smoke. Putin assured that investigative agencies were diligently working to ascertain the full details of the tragedy.
Earlier reports from Russian state media indicated that Alexander Bortnikov, the head of the Russian Security Service, had briefed Putin on the situation, disclosing that 11 individuals had been apprehended in connection with the attack.
The Kremlin later confirmed that four suspects, believed to be directly involved in the assault, were intercepted while attempting to flee across the border into Ukraine, as reported by TASS and other state media outlets.
Subsequently, RIA published what it claimed to be the confession of one of the detained individuals on Telegram. In the video, a man with a bloodied and bandaged head, identified as 30 years old, spoke in fragmented Russian. When questioned about the location where the weapons used in the attack were disposed of, he responded, "I don't know the city, ask my friends, they know."
CNN has not independently verified the accuracy of the RIA Novosti report or the statements attributed to the alleged attacker, which may have been made under coercion.
RIA also released photographs of three of the suspected assailants following their apprehension, matching videos circulated on unofficial platforms earlier Saturday depicting their capture in the southwestern Bryansk region.
No visual documentation of the fourth individual allegedly involved has been disseminated by Russian state media.
According to RIA, one of the accused purportedly mentioned returning to Russia from Turkey earlier in the month.
Additionally, the report disclosed that the group resided together in a hostel located in northern Moscow, with at least two of the perpetrators meeting a mere "10-12 days ago." The vehicle they utilized to reach Crocus City Hall and subsequently flee was acquired through familial connections.
In his video address on Saturday, Putin seemed to attribute blame to Ukraine for the tragic assault, insinuating the existence of a "window" prepared for the attackers to escape into Ukraine.
Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova echoed these sentiments on Telegram, asserting, "Now we know in which country these bloody bastards planned to hide from persecution – Ukraine."
However, Ukraine vehemently denied any involvement, with the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry declaring on Friday, "We consider such accusations to be a planned provocation by the Kremlin to further fuel anti-Ukrainian hysteria in Russian society, create conditions for increased mobilization of Russian citizens to participate in the criminal aggression against our country and discredit Ukraine in the eyes of the international community."
Furthermore, Ukrainian Defense Intelligence alleged on Friday, without presenting evidence, that the attack was orchestrated by Russian special services to justify heightened strikes on Ukraine.
World leaders swiftly condemned the attack, with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken strongly denouncing the massacre and extending heartfelt condolences to the affected families.
Similar sentiments were echoed by British Foreign Secretary David Cameron and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, expressing solidarity and sympathy for the victims and their families.
Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk emphasized the importance of preventing the attack from being exploited to escalate violence, while French President Emmanuel Macron stood in solidarity with the people of Russia.
India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman joined in condemning the attack, denouncing it as a cowardly act of terrorism.
Chinese leader Xi Jinping conveyed his condolences to President Putin, acknowledging the severity of the terrorist attack that resulted in numerous casualties, as reported by Chinese state media.
Furthermore, the United Nations Security Council characterized the assault as "heinous and cowardly," with Secretary-General Antonio Guterres condemning it in the strongest possible terms.
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