Gunmen wearing camouflage attire unleashed gunfire from automatic weapons on concert attendees near Moscow on Friday, resulting in a death toll of at least 60 individuals and injuring 145 others. The attack has been claimed by Islamic State militants.
This incident marks the deadliest assault in Russia since the 2004 Beslan school siege. The assailants indiscriminately fired at civilians just before the start of a performance by the Soviet-era rock group “Picnic” at the Crocus City Hall, a venue with a capacity of 6,200, located just west of the capital.
Verified video footage depicted individuals settling into their seats inside the hall, followed by a frantic rush towards the exits as the sound of gunfire reverberated amidst screams. Other recordings captured the gunmen targeting groups of people, leaving some victims lying motionless in pools of blood.
One eyewitness, who preferred to remain anonymous, recounted the chaos, stating, “Suddenly there were bangs behind us – shots. A burst of firing – I do not know what. A stampede began. Everyone ran to the escalator. Everyone was screaming; everyone was running.”
Russian investigators have reported a revised death toll of over 60, while health officials have indicated that approximately 145 individuals were wounded, with around 60 in critical condition.
The Beslan school siege in 2004, during which Islamist militants held over 1,000 people hostage, including hundreds of children, serves as a tragic reference point for such incidents.
According to the Kremlin, President Vladimir Putin has been briefed on the situation by security chiefs, including Alexander Bortnikov, head of the Federal Security Service (FSB).
Images released by Russian investigators depict a Kalashnikov automatic weapon, vests equipped with multiple spare magazines, and bags containing spent bullet casings.
Islamic State, formerly a dominant force in parts of Iraq and Syria, has claimed responsibility for the attack via its Amaq agency on Telegram. Some Russian media outlets have published grainy images purportedly showing two attackers in a white car.
The fate of the assailants remains uncertain as firefighters continue to battle a significant blaze, and emergency services evacuate hundreds of people, with sections of the venue’s roof collapsing.
Islamic State asserted that its fighters targeted the outskirts of Moscow, causing casualties and significant destruction before withdrawing safely to their bases. However, no further details were provided in the statement.
A U.S. official confirmed that the United States possesses intelligence supporting Islamic State’s claim of responsibility for the shooting. The official noted that Washington had recently cautioned Moscow about the potential for an attack. However, the official did not provide additional specifics, speaking on condition of anonymity.