An investigation into a “terrorist act” has been opened by the Russian authorities. The Ukrainian presidency assures that it has “nothing to do” with this attack, which left at least 40 dead and around a hundred injured.
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Sirens ring out across Moscow. At least 40 people were killed and more than a hundred injured in an attack on a concert hall located in a suburb of the Russian capital on Friday March 22. An investigation was opened to “terrorist act”, announced the Russian Investigative Committee, while the police are still, at the end of the evening, “looking” attackers. This was claimed by the Islamic State, via Telegram messaging, a few hours after the first shots. Franceinfo takes stock of what we know about this deadly attack.
The provisional toll is at least 40 dead.
The attack caused the death of at least 40 people and left more than a hundred injured, according to a provisional report released in the evening by the FSB, the Russian internal security service, to national press agencies.
According to the Russian Ministry of Emergency Situations, firefighters managed to evacuate around a hundred people who were in the basement of the concert hall. Operations were still in progress, at the end of the evening, to “rescue people from the roof of the building using lifting equipment”.
The attackers are still being sought
The rescue services, cited by the Russian agency Interfax, 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”. A description of the attack confirmed by a journalist from the state news agency Ria Novosti. According to him, individuals in camouflage clothing burst into the concert hall before opening fire and throwing “a grenade or an incendiary bomb, which caused a fire”.
The Telegram news channels Baza and Mash, known to be close to law enforcement, published videos showing at least two armed men advancing in the hall. In these images, we can also see bodies on the ground and groups of people rushing towards the exit.
Russian law enforcement officials said in the evening that they were looking for the attackers. “Special units are working at the site of the Crocus City Hall terrorist attack. They are searching for the criminals and evacuating citizens from the building”assures the National Guard on his Telegram account.
The Islamic State group claims responsibility for the attack
On one of its Telegram accounts, the Islamic State jihadist group claimed to be behind the attack: IS fighters “attacked a large gathering of Christians (…) in the vicinity of the Russian capital Moscow“, is written in the message relayed by the organization’s propaganda organ. These attackers “withdrew safely to their bases”also assures the terrorist group.
The American embassy in Russia warned its citizens two weeks ago that “Extremists have imminent plans to target large gatherings in Moscow, including concerts”. “If the United States has or had reliable data on this subject, it must immediately transmit it to the Russian side”indicated the spokesperson for Russian diplomacy, Maria Zakharova, on Friday.
The target location is a concert hall
It took place at Crocus City Hall, a concert hall located in Krasnogorsk, a suburb just outside the northwest of the Russian capital. The Russian rock band Piknik was scheduled to perform there. A large fire broke out in the building during the attack.
“Today, a tragedy occurred at the Crocus concert hall, the extent of which we cannot yet assess. We are monitoring the situation while awaiting official information. The musicians and management of the band are alive and well. security”reacted the Piknik group on Instagram.
Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin announced the cancellation of all public events in the city on Saturday and Sunday. On Telegram messaging, local authorities asked Muscovites not to open windows and not to leave their homes.
Moscow denounces a “monstrous crime”
“From the first minutes of the incident at Crocus City Hall, the President was informed of the start of the shooting. The President is constantly informed by all relevant departments of what is happening and the measures taken”says a Kremlin spokesperson, quoted by Russian news agencies.
The spokesperson for Russian diplomacy, Maria Zakharova, denounced a “bloody terrorist attack” and one “monstrous crime”. Former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev assured that Moscow would kill Ukrainian leaders if it turned out that they were involved in this attack.
Ukraine denies any involvement
The Ukrainian presidency assures that it has not “nothing to see” with this attack and accuses the Kremlin and its special services of having orchestrated the deadly attack to point the finger at Ukraine and justify a “escalation” of the war. “The terrorist attack in Moscow is a planned and deliberate provocation by Russian special services on the orders of Putin”assured the GUR, Ukrainian military intelligence. “Its goal is to justify even harsher strikes against Ukraine and full mobilization in Russia.”
The Russian Freedom Legion, the unit of Russian anti-Kremlin fighters behind several armed incursions on the Russian border in recent months, also denies any involvement. “The Legion does not fight Russian civilians”assures the group.
Paris, Brussels and Washington denounce the attack
The White House is “in thoughts alongside the victims of the terrible attack”says a spokesperson for the American presidency, referring to “horrible and difficult to watch images”. She also assures that she does not have “no indication at this stage that Ukraine or Ukrainians are involved”.
European Union says ‘shocked and dismayed’ after ‘terrorist attack’ in Moscow, says EU spokesperson on. Paris denounces “heinous acts” and asks that all light be shed on this attack. “Our thoughts are with the victims and injured and the Russian people”reacted the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs in a message posted on.
Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov, close to Moscow, also announced on Telegram the cancellation of all public demonstrations in his republic. Flags will be flown at half-mast tomorrow in Chechnya.