Meanwhile, Russian foreign ministry questions why U.S. didn’t share information on the attack.
Update(1735ET): The Islamic State (ISIS) has claimed responsibility for the Moscow terrorist attack according to a report by the Amaq news agency (and otherwise unconfirmed).
We will update this story as details are confirmed.
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Update(1635ET): Moscow has come out with fighting words while also pointing the finger at Washington about ‘what it knew’ ahead of time and when:
Medvedev threatens Ukraine’s top officials will be ‘destroyed mercilessly as terrorists’ if the ‘Kyiv regime’ is linked to Moscow concert hall attack.
The former president Deputy Chairman of the Security Council is known to routinely issue threatening and hawkish words, but the Russian foreign ministry has issued the following as cited in Reuters:
“On what basis do officials in Washington draw any conclusions in the midst of a tragedy about someone’s innocence?” She added that if Washington had information, it should be shared and that if Washington had no information, it should not be talking in such a way.
At least one of the attackers is said to be in Russian custody, also as security services inspect a van in the vicinity and other suspicious vehicles. The mall and concert hall venue previously rampaged by heavily armed gunmen continues to be engulfed in flames, according to a summary in RT:
Multiple fire brigades and aircraft have been deployed to put out the blaze at a large mall outside Moscow that was attacked by terrorists on Friday night. The popular shopping center and music venue is located in Krasnogorsk, just northwest of the Russian capital.
A group of gunmen stormed the Crocus City Hall on Friday night, killing at least 40 people, according to the authorities.
The assailants reportedly set the building on fire. Witnesses also said they heard explosions inside the mall.
According to regional emergency services, around 100 people have been evacuated from the underground floor. The rescuers are working to evacuate people from the roof.
⚡️One of the shooters in Moscow has been captured and arrested pic.twitter.com/ClLvpfkKKT
— War Monitor (@WarMonitors) March 22, 2024
There have been reports that parts of the roof over the complex collapsed, with hundreds of emergency responders battling the blaze and seeking any gunmen who may be at large.
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Update(1440ET): Russian state media as well as The Wall Street Journal’s regional correspondent is reporting at least 40 people killed, and over 100 wounded and injured, in the unfolding major terror attack on Moscow’s largest concert hall.
Initial videos have emerged showing what appears to be attackers in combat fatigues with assault rifles going around the mall part of the venue (which is attached to the concert hall) and shooing randomly. There are reports from RT of follow-up blasts happening even amid a huge security, police, and emergency response.
BREAKING: Footage shows deadly shooting in Moscow — 40 killed, 100 injured in terror attack in Moscow concert hall, local media reports
— Insider Paper (@TheInsiderPaper) March 22, 2024
Below: 20 seconds into clip… is that a flamethrower?
WARNING 🔞 Not for the faint-hearted
Terrorist attack at the Crocus City Hall in the Moscow region: The death toll has risen to 140 — local media. It is reported that special forces are already in the building, and gunfire can be heard.
Join ‘Voice of Europe’ on Telegram… pic.twitter.com/jCJ9rlTLkY
— Voice of Europe 🌍 (@V_of_Europe) March 22, 2024
A mere days ago the US Embassy in Moscow released the following alert telling all US nationals still in the country to avoid large gatherings and public venues. What did they know?
Russia has called the shooting a ‘bloody terrorist attack’ in an initial statement. The White House has also issued an initial assessment as follows:
WHITE HOUSE: NO INDICATION AT THIS TIME THAT UKRAINE INVOLVED IN MOSCOW SHOOTINGMOSCOW CANCELS ALL THE WEEKEND MASS GATHERINGS – MAYOR
Unconfirmed reports say some of the attackers may still be at large. Below–Warning, Graphic:
WARNING 🔞 Not for the faint-hearted
Terrorist attack at the Crocus City Hall in the Moscow region: The death toll has risen to 140 — local media. It is reported that special forces are already in the building, and gunfire can be heard.
Join ‘Voice of Europe’ on Telegram… pic.twitter.com/jCJ9rlTLkY
— Voice of Europe 🌍 (@V_of_Europe) March 22, 2024
Watch Live Feed of local media coverage below:
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Some kind of major attack just occurred at a Moscow concert hall with contradictory breaking reports emerging from on the ground and several circulating unconfirmed videos. There are possibly at least ten casualties and videos from the scene showing a large fire and plumes of black smoke over the venue. It may have been the result of a large explosion, or possibly even a cross-border drone strike, but conflicting reports say this is likely a mass shooting situation. According to the breaking Associated Press report, at least three gunmen in combat gear stormed the concert hall, with riot police responding:
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.
Video from inside the concert hall shows smoke and a chaotic scene of masses of people scrambling to evacuate the venue.
Unconfirmed statements say it happened at the largest indoor concert venue in Moscow, called Crocus City Hall.
The scope of the attack was clearly a very large, coordinated op or terror event.
BREAKING – Multiple fatalities reported after shooting in a Moscow concert hall in Russia, concert hall reportedly on fire
— Insider Paper (@TheInsiderPaper) March 22, 2024
Russia’s state RIA Novosti news agency said that several gunmen opened fire on the crowd in Moscow concert hall, resulting in unknown casualties, the AP has cited.
The incident has unfolded at during a week of rapidly escalating cross-border attacks on Russian territory from Ukraine, and also large-scale retaliatory strikes on Ukraine by Russian aerial forces.
Reports of armed men storming the concert hall, but the visuals also strongly suggest a large explosion…
An apparent terrorist attack at a club/shopping center in Moscow before a performance started. Dozens wounded and dead. There was also an explosion and the building is on fire.
Early videos show multiple men (3, per state media) in camo shooting rifles. pic.twitter.com/WCRmznrldq
— Aric Toler (@AricToler) March 22, 2024
A massive emergency and security response is ongoing:
MORE THAN 50 AMBULANCE CREWS SENT TO SITE OF SHOOTING NEAR MOSCOW – RIA
developing…
