Tragic Incident at Crocus City Hall in Moscow
Vehicles of Russian emergency services are parked near the burning Crocus City Hall concert venue, following a reported shooting incident, outside Moscow, Russia, on March 22. At least 60 people have been killed and 145 others injured after several gunmen wearing camouflage burst into a concert venue on the outskirts of Moscow. A fire broke out with flames visible from miles away. The whereabouts of the gunmen remains unknown.
Responsibility Claimed by ISIS-K
The U.S. believes the Islamic State Khorasan Province (ISIS-K) is responsible for the attack. The group, based in eastern Afghanistan, claimed responsibility on its Telegram channel. The U.S. had previously warned Russia about a planned terror attack targeting concerts in Moscow.
Details of the Attack
Concertgoers were at Moscow’s Crocus City Hall to see the rock band Picnic when armed gunmen entered. Witness videos show attackers firing at bystanders as they tried to hide. People were trapped inside as a fire broke out and spread. Moscow Mayor Sergey Sobyanin expressed condolences for the tragedy.
International Reactions
The White House called the attack “terrible” and denied any Ukrainian involvement. The U.S. embassy in Moscow advised citizens to avoid the area. Russian officials suggested a Ukrainian role, which Ukraine denied. The international community was urged to condemn the incident.
Historical Context
Moscow has faced similar incidents before, such as the 2002 Dubrovka theater hostage crisis. Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova labeled the attack as “a monstrous crime.” This is a developing story and will be updated as more information becomes available.