The Russian Foreign Ministry has criticized the US for quickly exonerating Ukraine as the possible mastermind of the attack on the Moscow concert hall. It raises questions if the US were to draw such conclusions while the tragedy was still unfolding. Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said this on Russian television on Friday evening. “If the United States or any other country has reliable facts, they should provide them to the Russian side.” If there were no such facts, neither the White House nor anyone else would have the right to give advance absolution, Zakharova said.
According to preliminary information, more than 60 people were killed and 145 people were injured in the event center on the outskirts of Moscow when several gunmen fired wildly. The perpetrators were on the run. Strong National Guard units were looking for them.
The Foreign Ministry in Kiev rejected any suspicion of responsibility for Ukraine, which has been defending itself against a Russian war of aggression for two years. In an initial reaction, the USA also warned not to establish any connection with Ukraine. “There is no evidence that Ukraine or Ukrainians had anything to do with the shooting,” US National Security Council communications director John Kirby said in Washington.
The USA recently warned of a possible terrorist attack in Russia. The terrorist militia “Islamic State” (IS) claimed responsibility for the attack on one of its channels. Experts believe the letter of confession is genuine. Nevertheless, the background is still completely unclear. The Russian authorities are investigating terrorism.
Putin dismissed warnings from foreign intelligence services as a Western provocation
It was also unclear how the men in camouflage uniforms and heavily armed were able to get into the concert hall. The Russian capital Moscow is considered a safe city with a large number of security forces, surveillance cameras and metal detectors in many places. However, the secret services of the USA and other Western countries warned of an impending attack at the beginning of March. After his re-election last Sunday, President Vladimir Putin dismissed this as a Western provocation.
As the shots rang out, attendees in the massive event center ran for their lives, videos showed. Individual dead or injured people could also be seen lying on the ground. According to eyewitness accounts on social media, many visitors to Crocus City Hall took a long time to get out of the building. Investigators later found weapons and a lot of ammunition. Authorities collected empty cartridge cases by the bagful. The building also caught fire during the attack. The Russian Civil Defense Ministry said an area of 13,000 square meters was in flames. Firefighting helicopters were in use. The roof is said to have collapsed. Even though it was said that the fire was under control, open flames were again coming out of the building early on Saturday morning, as reported by the Tass agency.
Dozens of ambulances and many buses were deployed to bring people to safety. The Crocus City Hall has several event halls that are also used for trade fairs. It is one of the most popular leisure spots for Muscovites and those living in the surrounding areas of the Russian capital. Stars have appeared there again and again. There was supposed to be a concert by the Russian rock band Piknik on Friday evening.