MOSCOW: A heinous terrorist attack at a popular Crocus City hall in the Russian capital city, Moscow left at least 60 killed and 145 injured on Friday.
The ISIL group has claimed responsibility for an attack after at least five camouflage-clad gunmen with automatic weapons and incendiary devices stormed the packed concert venue on Firday night in Russian capital killing at least 60 people. The audience was gathering to watch the veteran rock band Picnic, when shooting into the crowd started and bomb explosion set off a massive fire.
In a short statement published by news agency Amaq on Telegram, ISIS took responsibility for the Moscow attack on Friday. The terror group did not provide evidence to support the claim.
Video footage from the Crocus City Hall shows the vast complex, which is home to both the music hall and a shopping center, on fire with smoke billowing into the air. State-run RIA Novosti reported the armed individuals “opened fire with automatic weapons” and “threw a grenade or an incendiary bomb, which started a fire.” They then “allegedly fled in a white Renault car,” the news agency said.
State media Russia 24 reported the roof on the venue also partially collapsed. The fire had been brought largely under control more than six hours later. “There are still some pockets of fire, but the fire has been mostly eliminated,” Moscow governor Andrey Vorobyov said on Telegram.
Russian investigation revealed that more than 60 people had been killed. Health officials said about 145 people were injured, and about 60 of them were in critical condition.
Alexei, a music producer, was about to settle into his seat ahead when he said he heard “several machineguns bursts” and “a lot of screams”. “I realised right away that it was automatic gunfire and understood that most likely it’s the worst: a terrorist attack,” Alexei told the AFP news agency, declining to share his full name.
As people ran towards the emergency exits, “there was a terrible crush” with concertgoers climbing on one another’s heads to get out, he added.