Moscow concert attack live updates: 40 dead in armed attack; ISIS claims responsibility
March 22, 2024 in News by RBN Staff
Source: NBC (ACTIVELY BEING UPDATED)
The terror group’s claim was made through an ISIS-linked news agency and was not backed by any proof.
VIDEO AVAILABLE HERE: https://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/live-blog/russia-moscow-concert-attack-shooting-rcna144706
What we know about the Moscow concert attack
- Men in camouflage broke into a Moscow concert hall and opened fire, shooting an unknown number of people, Russia’s prosecutor general said.
- The terror group ISIS has claimed responsibility but did not provide proof of the claim, which was made on ISIS-affiliated news agency Amaq on Telegram.
- Russia officials said that more than 40 people are dead and more than 100 injured after the attack at Crocus City Hall.
- A fire also started inside Crocus City Hall, a large concert venue northwest of central Moscow. Firefighters have evacuated about 100 people from the basement of the building and efforts are underway to rescue people from the roof, Russian emergency officials said.
- Russia officials said they were investigating the attack as a terrorist act.
- A popular rock band was scheduled to play what appeared to be a sold-out show at the venue, which has a maximum capacity of more than 9,000 people.
U.S. had been gathering intelligence that ISIS could attack Russia
The U.S. had been gathering intelligence for months that ISIS could mount a mass casualty attack in Russia, two U.S. officials confirmed to NBC News.
That information led to a March 7 warning issued by the U.S. embassy in Russia about possible extremist attacks, including at concerts, urging people to stay away from large gatherings, one of the officials said.
That official said the claim of responsibility today by ISIS appears to be genuine, though no final assessment had been made about who was responsible.
Some Moscow concertgoers filmed events as they unfolded Friday night as gunmen opened fire and people ran to take cover in fear for their lives.
Witness says gunfire was first thought to be construction sounds
A witness to today’s armed attack on Moscow’s Crocus City Hall told a state news agency that they first mistook the gunfire for the sounds of an installation being dismantled.
“First, we started hearing typical loud pops, but it was impossible to understand that they were gunshots. We thought that something was falling, as exhibitions were being dismantled at that moment, and someone seemed to be dropping something large,” Mikhail Semyonov told TASS.
“Then, the bangs were getting more and more frequent. Suddenly, there was a scream, and the bangs started to be heard as bursts. Then it became clear that it was shooting,” he said.
ISIS claims responsibility for attack but does not provide proof
The terror group Islamic State has claimed responsibility for the attack in Moscow.
The group, also known as ISIS, did not provide any proof of its claim, which came from ISIS-affiliated news agency Amaq on Telegram.
The group’s members have carried out a number of terror attacks, including the 2015 attacks in Paris that killed 130 people.
Children among the victims, Russia’s children commissioner says
Russia’s commissioner for children’s rights, Maria Lvova-Belova, said children were among the victims of tonight’s attack.
“Information about their condition is regularly updated,” Lvova-Belova said on Telegram. “Any additional assistance will be provided immediately.”
She later told Russia 24 TV channel that at least two children had been injured, including one boy with a gunshot wound.
Earlier, Russian officials released a preliminary casualty toll of at least 40 people dead and more than 100 injured.
France, U.K., Germany condemn attack
Officials from France, the U.K. and Germany were among those who expressed their condolences to the victims of the attack at the Crocus concert hall.
“The images of the terrible attack on innocent people in Crocus City Hall near #Moscow are horrific,” Germany’s Foreign Office said on X. “The background must be investigated quickly. Our deepest condolences with the families of the victims.”
“We condemn the terrorist attack in the Crocus City Hall near Moscow,” the U.K.’s embassy in Russia said. “This is a terrible tragedy.”
Meanwhile, France’s foreign ministry called for “full light” to be shed on “these heinous acts.”
Public events across Russia called off after attack
Several regional leaders across Russia, including in the annexed Kherson region of Ukraine, have canceled public events this weekend over security considerations after the deadly concert attack in Moscow.
Shortly after the attack, Moscow Mayor Sergey Sobyanin canceled all sports, cultural and other public events in Moscow this weekend. State news agency TASS also quoted Russia’s cultural ministry as saying that mass and entertainment events in federal cultural institutions have been canceled in the coming days.
Zelenskyy adviser speaks out about attack
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s adviser denied that Ukraine was involved in the deadly Crocus concert hall attack.
“Ukraine certainly has nothing to do with the shooting/explosions in the Crocus City Hall (Moscow Region, Russia),” Mykhailo Podolyak wrote on X. “It makes no sense whatsoever.”
No evidence has emerged to suggest Ukraine may have been involved, but Ukrainian officials may be trying to pre-empt accusations, as some Kremlin hawks have already started pointing at Kyiv.
Asked whether the shooting was at all tied to the war in Ukraine, U.S. National Security Council spokesperson John Kirby said: “There is no indication at this time that Ukraine, or Ukrainians, were involved in the shooting, but again, this just broke. We’re taking a look at it, but I would disabuse you at this early hour have any connection to Ukraine.”
Videos posted to social media appear to show chaos inside Moscow’s Crocus City Hall during and after a terrorist attack.
Some videos include what sound like gunshots and show men with rifles, as concertgoers frantically try to exit the venue.
State Department issues warning to Americans in Moscow
The State Department said that the U.S. Embassy in Moscow is aware of the terrorist attack on Crocus City Hall and that U.S. citizens should avoid the area and follow the instructions of local authorities.
“The U.S. government’s ability to provide routine or emergency services to U.S. citizens in Russia is severely limited, particularly in areas far from the U.S. embassy in Moscow, due to Russian government limitations on travel for U.S. embassy personnel and staffing, and the ongoing suspension of operations, including consular services, at U.S. consulates in Russia,” the State Department said in a message posted to its website.
‘What a nightmare in Crocus,’ Widow of opposition leader Alexei Navalny condolences about concert attack
Yulia Navalnaya, the widow of Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny who died in prison last month, expressed her condolences about the attack Friday.
“What a nightmare in Crocus,” Navalnaya wrote on X. “Condolences to the families of the victims and quick recovery to the injured. Everyone involved in this crime must be found and held accountable.”
320 firefighters, 3 helicopters working to put out fire
Russia’s Ministry of Emergency Situations said the number of rescue crews responding to the attack is growing and now includes more than 320 firefighters, 130 emergency vehicles and three helicopters dumping water on the burning concert venue.
Moscow regional governor says 40 dead, more than 100 injured
Moscow Regional Governor Andrei Vorobyov said on Telegram that at least 40 people are dead and more than 100 injured in the terrorist attack, confirming figures previously reported by Russian state news.
Putin informed about concert venue attack ‘in the first minutes,’ Kremlin spokesperson says
Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said President Vladimir Putin was informed about the shooting at the Crocus concert hall “in the first minutes” of the attack, Russian state news agency RIA reported.
The president is receiving information about what is happening and the measures being taken through all relevant services and is giving necessary instructions, Peskov said according to RIA.
Russian journalist was inside concert venue when gunmen entered
Russian news agency RIA Novosti said on Telegram that one of its reporters was inside the venue when gunmen entered and began shooting concertgoers.
The journalist said that at least three unmasked gunmen in camouflage entered the hall a few minutes before 8 p.m. Moscow time. They shot people point-blank and threw incendiary bombs, according to the journalist.
Roof of concert hall partially collapsing, TASS reports
The roof of the concert hall is partially collapsing, Russian state news agency Tass reported.
A TASS correspondent reporting from the scene in Moscow said the fire on the roof is still raging but that the structure is beginning to collapse in some places. The glass facade of the building is also reported to be crumbling.
It’s unclear if there are still people inside the building.
Russia’s foreign ministry spokesperson calls incident ‘bloody terrorist attack’
Maria Zakharova, spokesperson for Russia’s foreign ministry, called the Friday night incident at the Crocus City Hall in Moscow a “bloody terrorist attack” as she called for “strong condemnation” from the international community.
“Now, as the Russian authorities have stated, all efforts are being devoted to saving people,” Zakharova said. “The entire world community is obliged to condemn this monstrous crime!”
U.S. national security spokesperson says embassy has told Americans to avoid large gatherings in Moscow
National Security Council Spokesman John Kirby addressed the attack in Moscow at a White House press briefing Friday afternoon, calling it a “terrible, terrible shooting attack.”
“The images are just horrible and just hard to watch and our thoughts obviously are going to be with the the victims,” Kirby said.
Kirby added that the U.S. embassy has notified all Americans in Moscow to avoid large gatherings, concerts, shopping malls, etc., and “stay put where they are” for their safety.
Russian media says 40 dead, more than 100 injured at concert attack
TASS, Russia’s state-owned news agency, and RIA Novosti are reporting that Russia’s FSB security agency has put the preliminary casualty count at 40 dead and more than 100 injured by a terrorist attack on a Moscow-area concert venue.
NBC News has not confirmed those casualty numbers.
Roof of concert venue at risk of collapse, Russian media says
Russian news agency RIA Novosti said on Telegram that the roof of the building near the concert venue’s stage has begun to collapse.
Video posted to Telegram by RIA Novosti showed fire continue to blaze inside the venue.
Moscow area governor says more than 70 ambluances at scene of attack
Andrei Vorobyov, Moscow’s regional governor, said on Telegram that more than 70 ambulances have been dispatched to the scene of concert venue attack.
“Everything is being done at the scene to save people,” he wrote in the Telegram message. “The Special Rapid Response Unit (SOBR) has been deployed. There are over 70 ambulance carriages near Crocus, doctors provide the necessary assistance to all victims.”
Russian media says fire is growing, efforts to extinguish it include helicopters
Russian news agency RIA Novosti said on Telegram that the fire at the concert venue is getting stronger. Russia’s emergency officials are using two helicopters to dump water on it.
Russia’s prosecutor general office says number of victims still being determined
Russia’s prosecutor general said on Telegram that officials are working to determine how many people have been killed or hurt in the concert attack.
“On behalf of Igor Krasnov, the prosecutor of the Moscow region has gone to the scene of the incident at Crocus City Hall to coordinate the actions of law enforcement agencies,” the prosecutor general’s Telegram account posted. “Tonight, before the start of the event in the concert hall in Krasnogorsk, unknown men in camouflage clothes broke into the building and started shooting.”
“The number of victims is being determined, a fire started in the entertainment center building, and citizens are being evacuated.”
Moscow’s mayor cancels weekend events
Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin said on Telegram that he was canceling all public events in Moscow this weekend.
“I have taken the decision to cancel all sports, cultural and other public events in Moscow this weekend,” he said. “I ask of you to treat this measure with understanding.”
Popular rock band was to play sold-out venue that can hold 9,500
A popular rock band was scheduled to play what appeared to be a sold-out show at the Moscow concert hall where there were reports of gunmen in combat fatigues opening fire.
Picnic, formed in 1978, was to play at Crocus City Hall, west of central Moscow.
The multilevel facility in Krasnogorsk has a maximum capacity of 9,527 people. Booking sites show the event was sold out.
Russian media says victims have been admitted to hospitals
Russian news agency TASS reported that the country’s ministry of health has said that multiple people have been admitted to hospitals after the attack on a Moscow-area music venue.
Russia’s aviation agency says additional security added to Moscow airports
The Russian aviation agency Rosaviatsiya said that additional security measures are being introduced in Moscow airports
“Due to increased security measures, we ask passengers to arrive at Sheremetyevo, Domodedovo, Vnukovo and Zhukovsky airports in advance,” the agency said on the Telegram messaging app.
Moscow’s emergency ministry says it is working to extinguish fire
Moscow’s emegency ministry said it was working to extinguish a fire that began at the music venue.
The ministry said about 100 people were evacuated from the building, and it was working to rescue people from the roof.
Russian media says state security taking action
Russia’s news outlet RIA Novosti said that the country’s security agency, the FSB, is taking measures to respond to the shooting at a concert hall near Moscow.
Videos posted by Russian media show men with rifles moving through area
Extended rounds of gunfire could be heard on multiple videos posted by Russian media and Telegram channels. One showed two men with rifles moving through a concert hall. Another one showed a man inside the auditorium, saying the assailants set it on fire, with incessant gunshots ringing out in the background.
Andrei Vorobyov, the governor of the Moscow region, said he was heading to the area and set up a task force to deal with the damage. He didn’t immediately offer any further details.
Russian media reports said that riot police units were being sent to the area as people were being evacuated.
Russian news outlets report gunman opened fire at Moscow concert hall
Several gunmen in combat fatigues burst into a big concert hall in Moscow on Friday and fired automatic weapons at the crowd, injuring an unspecified number of people, Russian media said.
Russian news reports said that the assailants also used explosives, causing a massive blaze at the Crocus City Hall on the western edge of Moscow. Video posted on social media showed huge plumes of black smoke rising over the building.
Russia’s state RIA Novosti news agency reported that at least three people in combat fatigues fired weapons. The state Tass news agency also reported the shooting.
U.S. warned of imminent Moscow attack by ‘extremists,’ urges citizens to avoid crowds
U.S. citizens in Moscow had been warned to avoid large gatherings earlier this month because of heightened fears of a terrorist attack.
The U.S. Embassy in the Russian capital said it was “monitoring reports that extremists have imminent plans to target large gatherings in Moscow, to include concerts, and U.S. citizens should be advised to avoid large gatherings over the next 48 hours.”
U.S. citizens should avoid crowds, monitor local media for updates and “be aware of your surroundings,” it said in a brief online update.
