Moscow Concert Attack: The death toll due to the shooting attack that took place at a concert hall near the Russian capital of Moscow on Friday has crossed 60, Russian officials said. Meanwhile, the authorities put the number of injured individuals at 145.
The responsibility for the attack, which has come to be the deadliest attack in Russia since the 2004 Beslan school siege, was claimed by the Islamic State. The mass shooting saw camouflage-clad gunmen open indiscriminate gunfire at the Crocus City Hall just west of Moscow.
#WATCH| Concert attack near Moscow | Earlier visuals from the spot where five gunmen dressed in camouflage opened fire with automatic weapons at people at a concert in the Crocus City Hall near Moscow, killing at least 60 people and injuring 145 more in an attack claimed by… pic.twitter.com/lmrEdwQlbG
— ANI (@ANI) March 23, 2024
Moscow Concert Attack Top Developments
- The death toll due to the attack has crossed 60, while 145 others have been injured, Russian authorities informed.
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- Condemning the attack, Prime Minister Narendra Modi posted on X (formerly Twitter): "We strongly condemn the heinous terrorist attack in Moscow. Our thoughts and prayers are with the families of the victims. India stands in solidarity with the government and the people of the Russian Federation in this hour of grief."
- The attack involved gunmen spraying civilians with bullets just before a performance by Soviet-era rock group "Picnic", which was to perform to a full house at the 6,200-seat venue.
- Verified video showed people taking their seats in the hall, then rushing for the exits as repeated gunfire echoed above screams. Other video showed men shooting at groups of people.
- "Suddenly there were bangs behind us - shots. A burst of firing - I do not know what," a witness was quoted as saying by Reuters under the condition of anonymity.
- The United States has intelligence confirming Islamic State's claim of responsibility for the shooting, a US official said on Friday.
- The official said Washington had warned Moscow in recent weeks of the possibility of an attack. "We did warn the Russians appropriately," Reuters quoted the official, who was speaking on the condition of anonymity.
- The attack on Crocus City Hall, about 20 km (12 miles) from the Kremlin, comes just two weeks after the US embassy in Russia warned that "extremists" had imminent plans for an attack in Moscow.
(With inputs from Reuters)