Armed men attacked a concert hall in a Moscow suburb on Friday night, resulting in at least 60 deaths and 145 injuries, making it one of the deadliest attacks in Russia in recent years.
Videos circulated online showed masked men entering the Crocus City Hall, with one seen firing shots from what appeared to be an assault rifle. Another video depicted a group of four men, three of whom were armed, pursuing and shooting at people at close range.
Witnesses reported that a grenade or incendiary device was thrown, igniting a fire after the shooting began. Footage from the state-run TASS news agency showed a fire engulfing the concert hall, located 16 kilometers northwest of central Moscow.
Later, the Islamic State group claimed responsibility for the attack through its Telegram channel. Among the victims were three children, according to the Moscow region’s health ministry.
Following the initial reports, Moscow region Governor Andrei Vorobyov arrived at the scene to coordinate response efforts. Over 70 ambulance teams were dispatched, providing medical assistance to the injured.
Special forces and riot police were deployed, with Interior Minister Vladimir Kolokoltsev also arriving at the scene. Videos showed law enforcement officers surrounding the concert hall, while some reports indicated aggressive actions towards journalists attempting to cover the events.
Witnesses described people taking cover inside the hall and eventually crawling out to safety. About 100 people managed to escape through the theatre’s basement, while others sought refuge on the roof.
Efforts to extinguish the fire involved three helicopters dumping water on the venue, which has a capacity for several thousand attendees and has hosted numerous international acts.
By midnight, the emergencies ministry reported that the fire had been contained, and rescuers were able to enter the auditorium. The Investigative Committee of Russia initiated a criminal terrorism case in response to the incident.
While President Putin was quickly informed of the attack, he has not publicly commented. Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin announced assistance measures for those affected and cancelled all public events in the capital for the weekend.
On Saturday morning, long queues formed at a Moscow clinic as people lined up to donate blood for the injured.
