A horrific attack on a Moscow concert hall has left at least 115 people dead and scores injured. The Islamic State group (ISIS) has claimed responsibility for the assault, but their claim, distributed through an ISIS-affiliated news agency, has not been independently verified.
In a devastating attack at Crocus City Hall on the outskirts of Moscow, at least 115 people have been killed, with 145 wounded, marking Russia’s most severe terror incident in recent years. Gunmen, dressed in combat gear, unleashed gunfire and set off explosives during a Moscow concert, creating a scene of chaos and horror.
The Islamic State (ISIS) has claimed responsibility for this atrocious act, which has resulted in the deaths of three children among others. The attackers believed to be as many as five, managed to escape, prompting a massive manhunt across Moscow and its surrounding areas.
The situation has evoked responses from global leaders, with President Vladimir Putin expressing his wishes for a swift recovery of the injured. This incident has reignited memories of past terrorist attacks within Europe and Russia, drawing parallels to the tragic events at the Bataclan in Paris and the Beslan school siege.
The international community, including the British embassy and the UN Security Council, has condemned the attack, offering condolences to the victims and their families.
The assault took place during a sold-out concert by the Russian Soviet-era rock band Piknik at Crocus City Hall, a prominent music venue with a capacity of 6,200. In the wake of the attack, Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin announced the cancellation of all cultural, sporting, and mass events for the weekend, signaling a period of mourning and heightened security across the city.
Russia’s Deadliest Attacks
Russia has not faced a large terrorist attack on its territory since 2017 when 14 people were killed in a blast on the St Petersburg metro. Suicide bombers killed 34 people in Volgograd in 2013 shortly before the Sochi Olympics. And in 2011, suicide bombers killed 30 people at Moscow’s Domodedovo airport.
The motive behind the attack remains under investigation. ISIS has a history of targeting civilians in mass casualty events, and it’s not possible to completely dismiss their claim of responsibility. However, authorities are urging caution until the claim is verified.
Security forces are on high alert across the city as the investigation unfolds.
