Achi news desk-
- Daesh gunmen target concertgoers at the Crocus City Hall near Moscow.
- President Vladimir Putin receives a briefing from security chiefs.
- US, UNSC, European and Arab powers condemn terrorist attack.
MOSCOW: More than 60 people have been killed and over 145 injured after armed soldiers opened fire on concertgoers at the Crocus City Hall located on the outskirts of Moscow, Russia.
At least 60 of those injured in the attack, which took place on Friday, are in a serious condition.
The attackers targeted people moments before the Soviet-era rock group “Picnic” performed to a full house at the 6,200-seat Crocus City Hall, west of the Russian capital.
The terrorist attack, which the militant group Daesh has claimed responsibility for, is the deadliest terrorist incident in Russia since the Beslan school siege in 2004 where militants had taken more than 1,000 people hostage.
“Suddenly there were bangs behind us – shots. Firing – I don’t know what,” said one witness, who asked not to be identified by name. Reuters.
“A stampede started. Everyone ran to the escalator,” said the witness. “Everyone was screaming; everyone was running.”
Russian President Vladimir Putin was being updated by security chiefs about the situation, including by Alexander Bortnikov, head of the Federal Security Service (FSB), the Kremlin said.
Russian investigators published photos of a Kalashnikov automatic weapon, vests with multiple spare magazines and bags of spent bullet casings.
Meanwhile, in a statement, Daesh said its fighters had attacked the outskirts of Moscow, “killing and wounding hundreds”. […] before they retreat to their bottoms safely.”
However, Moscow has yet to say who it thinks is responsible.
The United States has information confirming Daesh’s claim of responsibility for the shooting, a US official said on Friday. The official said Washington had warned Moscow in recent weeks about the possibility of an attack.
“We duly warned the Russians,” the official said, speaking on condition of anonymity, without providing any additional details.
The attack on Crocus City Hall, about 20 kilometers (12 miles) from the Kremlin, comes just two weeks after the US embassy in Russia warned that “extremists” had imminent plans for an attack in Moscow.
The United States, European and Arab powers and many former Soviet republics expressed shock and sent their condolences. Ukrainian presidential adviser Mykhailo Podolyak denied any Ukrainian involvement.
The United Nations Security Council (UNSC) has also condemned what it called a “heinous and cowardly terrorist attack.”
