Twitter screenshot
Armed men in camouflage burst into Crocus City Hall during a rock band’s performance. Many people took refuge on the roof. An investigation was opened for a “terrorist act”.
A major shooting, followed by a fire, broke out in a concert hall in the suburbs of Moscow, Russia, according to Russian news agencies, this Friday March 22. Russian diplomacy denounced a “bloody terrorist attack”. Videos are circulating on social media, showing crowds in panic. The mayor of Moscow confirmed that there were deaths. “A terrible tragedy occurred today in Crocus City. I offer my condolences to the loved ones of the dead.”, said the mayor. Orthodox Patriarch Kirill “pray for peace for the souls of the deceased”, according to its spokesperson, Vladimir Legoida. According to the renowned Italian newspaper The Republic which cites Russian media, there are at least 12 people killed and 35 injured.
The facts, the exact nature of which remains to be clarified, took place at Crocus City Hall, a concert hall located in the northwest of the Russian capital. “Unknown persons opened fire at Crocus City Hall. The evacuation of people is underway., the emergency services told the public agency TASS. Around a hundred people were evacuated from the basement, others took refuge on the roof. At least 70 ambulances are on site.
Automatic weapon fire
The Ria Novosti agency reported “wounded” after “automatic weapon fire”, quoting his journalist on site. According to this journalist, people in camouflage clothing burst onto the floor of the room before opening fire and throwing “a grenade or an incendiary bomb, which caused a fire”. “The people in the room lay on the ground to protect themselves from the gunfire for 15 to 20 minutes, after which they began to crawl out. Many managed to get out.indicated this journalist from Ria Novosti, according to which “There are injured, that’s for sure”.
The emergency services, cited by the Interfax agency, reported a “group of two to five unidentified people wearing tactical uniforms and armed with automatic weapons” who have “opened fire on security guards at the entrance to the concert hall” Then “started shooting at the audience”.
The Telegram news channels Baza and Mash, known to be close to the police, published videos showing large plumes of black smoke and flames escaping from the building housing the concert hall, as well as images showing two armed men advancing down the hall, with at least one man visible on the ground near the entrance. Other images show spectators hiding behind seats or evacuating the concert hall.
Attacks in the past
The mayor of Moscow has canceled all public events in the Russian capital this weekend. The White House sent its thoughts to the victims of«horrible» attack in Moscow. “I can’t give more details.”also declared John Kirby, spokesperson for the National Security Council, saying that the United States was seeking “to obtain more information”. For Washington, there is no “no indication at this stage” of Ukrainian involvement in the attack in Moscow.
Russia has been the target of numerous attacks in the past committed by Islamist groups but also of shootings without political motives or attributed to unbalanced people. In 2002, Chechen fighters took 912 people hostage in the Moscow theater of Dubrovka to demand the withdrawal of Russian troops from Chechnya. The hostage-taking ended with an assault by special forces, and the death of 130 people, almost all of them asphyxiated by the gas used by the soldiers.
This attack also comes as Russia has been waging a war against its Ukrainian neighbor for two years and has been the target of attacks by Russian anti-Kremlin fighters for several days in the regions bordering Ukraine.
Screenshot