Russia calls on the international community to condemn this “heinous crime”
Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova called on the international community to condemn the “heinous crime” that followed the shooting at a concert hall near Moscow, Reuters reported.
Meanwhile, Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov issued a statement on the attack: “I strongly condemn such violent, brutal and reckless acts against civilians.”
key events
Here is a map of Krokus Town Hall, about 20 kilometers from Red Square in Moscow:
Here are some images posted by newswires in Moscow, where the city is on high alert following reports of a shooting at a concert venue on Friday night:
A helicopter was called in to extinguish the fire at Krokus City Hall after the shooting, Tass news agency reported.
Images and videos on social media appear to show other helicopters and multiple ambulances near the venue:
Russia calls on the international community to condemn this “heinous crime”
Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova called on the international community to condemn the “heinous crime” that followed the shooting at a concert hall near Moscow, Reuters reported.
Meanwhile, Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov issued a statement on the attack: “I strongly condemn such violent, brutal and reckless acts against civilians.”
Julian Berg
White House national security spokesman John Kirby told reporters:
There is currently no indication that Ukraine or Ukrainians were involved in the shooting… We are looking into the matter, but I would correct you on any links to Ukraine at this early stage. “
Asked whether this was a sign of cracks in Vladimir Putin’s regime, Kirby said:
There are people in Moscow and Russia who object to the way Putin is running the country, but I don’t think we can link the mall attack to political motivations at this early stage. I think… we just need more time and we need to know more. “
Moscow cancels all mass gatherings and tightens security at airports and stations
Here is the latest news from Reuters on the attack:
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According to IFX, a second explosion occurred at the Krokus City Hall near Moscow.
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Moscow’s mayor said the city has canceled all mass gatherings over the weekend.
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According to IFX, the first batch of injured people are already being treated in hospitals across Moscow.
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Security measures have been stepped up at Moscow railway stations, TASS news agency reported.
Andrew Ross
According to unofficial reports, in Russia’s worst terrorist attack in years, gunmen wearing combat uniforms opened fire and detonated bombs at a large concert hall in Moscow, killing at least a dozen people and injuring many others.
Photos showed the Crocus concert hall engulfed in flames, and video of the attack showed at least four gunmen opening fire with automatic weapons as panicked Russians ran for their lives.
In one video, three men wearing camouflage uniforms and armed with rifles shot at bodies scattered in the hall of the concert hall at close range. The attackers also apparently detonated explosives, as explosions can be heard in other videos of the attack.
The attack came days after the U.S. Embassy in Russia issued a security alert to U.S. citizens.
The embassy also said it was “monitoring reports of imminent plans by extremists to target large gatherings in Moscow, including concerts”.
Actions U.S. citizens are encouraged to take include avoiding crowds, following local media for updates and being aware of their surroundings.
The embassy has also listed the following contact details for assistance:
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U.S. Embassy in Moscow, Russian Federation
U.S. citizens with emergencies should call +7 (495) 728-5577
Outside office hours, please contact +7 (495) 728-5000
For general questions about U.S. citizen services, please email: MoscowACS@state.govU.S. Russian Embassy Website -
U.S. Department of State – Consular Affairs
888-407-4747 or 202-501-4444
opening summary
Moscow suffered a major terror attack on Friday night when several gunmen wearing camouflage uniforms opened fire on people at the Krokus Town Hall concert hall on the outskirts of the city.
Here’s what we know so far:
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Russian media reported that between two and five gunmen were involved in the attack. Footage showed a rampage-style rampage as people were shot dead in the foyer.
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The attackers also used explosives, which started the fire, state media reported. The fire has engulfed a third of the concert venue’s building, with the building’s roof almost completely engulfed in flames, Tass news agency reported. Thick smoke could be seen billowing into the sky.
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Initial reports put the death toll at 14.
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Video footage posted on Russian social media channels showed a large group of concertgoers trying to escape the concert hall while numerous loud gunshots were heard.
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The Russian National Guard special forces arrived at the scene and dispatched more than 50 ambulance personnel.
