Several gunmen fired their weapons at a Moscow concert hall on Friday, resulting in the deaths of at least 40 individuals and causing injuries to over 100 people, as stated by Russia’s Federal Security Service. said.
A video from the Crocus City Hall music venue near Moscow depicts at least three gunmen wearing camouflage clothing and shooting automatic weapons. The Associated Press reported that attackers also threw explosives, leading to a large fire.
Fifty ambulance crews, as well as police and firefighters, were dispatched to the scene, according to Reuters citing Russian news agencies. Reuters reported, citing Russian news agencies.
In one video shared on social media, individuals dressed as gunmen were seen shooting at civilians near the hall’s entrance sign. Other footage displayed multiple individuals lying on the ground in a pool of blood.
The AP noted that the apparent terror attack was the most severe in Russia in the past two decades. Russian authorities are conducting an investigation into the attack.
Russian news sources mentioned that during the attack, the perpetrators threw explosives and the venue's roof was collapsing, according to AP.
The governor of the Moscow region, Andrei Vorobyov, is establishing a task force to address the damage, according to AP.
White House spokesperson John Kirby described the footage as “difficult to watch,” and also stated that there is no evidence of Ukrainian involvement in the attack.
“The images are just horrible. Just hard to watch, and our thoughts obviously are going to be with the victims of this terrible, terrible shooting attack,” Kirby expressed on Friday. “No indication at this time that Ukraine or Ukrainians were involved in the shooting.”
The shooting occurred shortly after the U.S. Embassy in Russia put out a security alert earlier this month warning of “extremists” planning to attack Russia’s capital city. The warning came just hours after Russia’s Federal Security Service (FSS) said it quashed an attack on a synagogue in Moscow reportedly orchestrated by a militant Sunni Muslim group.
Updated: 3:40 p.m.
