Russia
Shots and explosion in Moscow concert hall – dead and injured
Pictures show flames and smoke rising from the concert hall in Moscow
© SNA / Imago Images
There was an attack with firearms in a concert hall in Moscow. There are dead and injured. The situation is still confusing. Russia’s Foreign Ministry speaks of a terrorist attack.
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According to Russian media reports, gunmen opened fire in a concert hall on Friday Moscow opens. Unidentified people wearing camouflage clothing stormed the Crocus City Hall shortly before the start of a concert in the city of Krasnogorsk, northwest of Moscow, and fired shots, the Russian Prosecutor General’s Office said. The RIA news agency reported that there were at least three people involved. A news agency reporter on site spoke of injuries from “automatic gunfire.” The Interfax news agency reports two to five attackers who attacked the concert hall where the Russian rock group Piknik was giving a concert. According to the state news agency Tass, special units of the Russian National Guard have arrived at the scene.
The Russian domestic secret service FSB confirmed a shooting in the concert hall with dead and injured people. “All necessary measures” will be taken, the state news agency Interfax quoted the service as saying.
There are numerous rescue workers on site
© SNA / Imago Images
Moscow: Apparently several dead, people in burning hall
According to Mayor Sergei Sobyanin, there were several deaths. On Friday evening he spoke of a “terrible tragedy” without giving an exact number of victims. There was talk of at least 12 deaths on social networks. There was initially no official confirmation of this. Tass reports some deaths and injuries, citing eyewitnesses. The victims are said to be both employees and visitors to Crocus City Hall. It is said that there are still people in the concert hall.
According to Tass, there are still people on the roof of the burning hall. The RIA agency reports that around 100 people were brought to safety from the basement.
Information on the background to the incident was initially unclear. The Russian ombudswoman Tatyana Moskalkova spoke of a “terrorist attack”. The Russian Foreign Ministry called the attack a “bloody terrorist attack.” “The entire global community must condemn this despicable crime,” wrote ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova on the Telegram online service on Friday evening. Western embassies recently warned of terrorist attacks in Moscow. The Kremlin described this as a provocation by the West.
USA: “Currently no indications” that Ukraine is involved
The mayor of Moscow canceled all major events over the weekend. He asked for your understanding of the measure. According to the Tass news agency, security precautions at the capital’s airports and train stations are being strengthened.
The US said that from its perspective there are “currently no indications” that Ukraine was involved in the incident. “There is currently no indication that Ukraine or Ukrainians are involved in the firearms attack,” National Security Council spokesman John Kirby said Friday. “I would advise you against establishing any connection with Ukraine at such an early stage,” he added.