Achi news desk-
KRASNOGORSK, Russia (AFP) – Gunmen who opened fire at a Moscow concert hall killed more than 60 people and wounded more than 14 as they sparked an inferno, authorities said Saturday, with the Islamic State group claiming responsibility.
Attackers in camouflage entered the building on Friday, opened fire and threw a grenade or firebomb, according to a journalist for the RIA Novosti news agency at the scene. A fire quickly spread through the Crocus City concert hall in the northern Moscow suburb of Krasnogorsk, as smoke filled the building and screaming visitors rushed for emergency exits.
Alexei, a music producer, was about to settle into his seat before the start of a concert by the Soviet-era rock band Piknik when he heard gunfire and “a lot of screams”. “I immediately realized it was automatic gunfire and understood that it was probably the worst: a terrorist attack,” said Alexei, who would not give his last name. As people ran towards emergency exits, “there was a terrible crush” with concertgoers climbing on top of each other to get out, he added.
Russia’s Investigative Committee said on Saturday that more than 60 people had been killed, raising an earlier toll of 40, according to Russian news agencies. Russian Health Minister Mikhail Murashko said 115 people were in hospital, including five children, one of whom was in a critical condition. Of the 110 adult patients, 60 were in a serious condition.
Authorities said a “terrorist” investigation had been launched and President Vladimir Putin was receiving “constant” updates, his spokesman Dmitry Peskov told Russian news agencies. Russia’s national guard said it was at the scene and looking for the criminals. An AFP reporter saw police officers with sniffer dogs inspecting vehicles parked next to the building. The Islamic State group said its fighters had attacked a “large gathering” on the outskirts of Moscow and had “safely retreated to their bases”.
Fire included
Telegram news channels Baza and Mash, which are close to security forces, showed video images of flames and black smoke pouring from the hall. Other images also showed concertgoers hiding behind seats or trying to escape. Security services quoted by Interfax said that between two and five people “wearing tactical uniforms and carrying automatic weapons” opened fire on guards at the entrance and then started shooting at the audience. A witness told AFP that it was a few minutes before the start of the concert when automatic gunfire rang out.
About 100 people escaped through the basement of the theater, while others took shelter on the roof, the emergency services ministry said on its Telegram channel. Three helicopters were involved in efforts to put out the fire, dumping water on the huge concert venue which can hold thousands of people and has welcomed top international artists. Just after midnight, the emergency ministry said the fire had been contained. Andrey Vorobyov, the governor of the Moscow region, said later that the flames had been “mostly extinguished”, and that rescuers had been able to enter the auditorium.
Putin – who was informed of the attack “within the first minutes”, according to the Kremlin – wished the wounded victims a speedy recovery, Deputy Prime Minister Tatyana Golikova was quoted as saying by Russian news agencies. Putin has not publicly commented on the attack.
‘Hate crime’
Outside the burning building, heartbroken relatives of those at the concert spoke of despair as they frantically tried to contact their loved ones. Semyon, 33, whose wife was at the scene, said “no one knows” where she is. “I have called five hospitals, all busy,” he said. “I’m in complete panic, my whole body hurts.”
Russian foreign ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said it was a “bloody terrorist attack”. “The entire international community must condemn this heinous crime,” he said on Telegram. The US presidency called the attack “terrible” and said there was no direct indication of any connection to the conflict in Ukraine.
Ukraine’s presidency said Kyiv had “nothing to do” with the attack, while its military intelligence called the incident a Russian “provocation” and accused Moscow’s special services of being behind it. The Russian Freedom Legion, a pro-Ukraine militia responsible for attacks on Russia’s border regions, also denied any role.
Former Russian president Dmitry Medvedev promised on Telegram that “top Ukrainian officials must be found and mercilessly destroyed as terrorists” if they are involved in the attack. The United Nations, the European Union, France, Spain, Italy and several other countries also condemned the attack.
The White House said its “thoughts are with the victims of this terrible shooting attack”, while French President Emmanuel Macron also expressed “solidarity with the victims, their loved ones and all the people of Russia”.
Chinese President Xi Jinping sent his “condolences” to his Russian counterpart, saying he “strongly supports the Russian government’s efforts to safeguard its national security and stability”, according to state news agency Xinhua. Orthodox church leader Patriarch Kirill “prayed for peace for the souls of the dead”, said his spokesman Vladimir Legoyda.
Previous warnings
Moscow and other Russian cities have been the targets of previous attacks by Islamist groups but there have also been incidents without any clear political motive. Earlier this month, the US embassy in Russia said it was monitoring reports that “extremists” were planning to “target large gatherings in Moscow”, including concerts.
The White House said on Friday that the United States warned Russian authorities earlier in March of a “planned terrorist attack” possibly targeting “large gatherings” in Moscow. Washington had “shared this information with Russian authorities”, National Security Council spokeswoman Adrienne Watson said.
In 2002, Chechen separatist fighters took 912 people hostage in a theater in Moscow, the Dubrovka, demanding the withdrawal of Russian troops from the region. Special forces stormed the theater to end the hostage-taking and 130 people were killed, almost all suffocated by gas used by the security forces to beat the gunmen.
