At least 133 people were killed and more than 140 injured when gunmen attacked a packed concert venue on the outskirts of Moscow on March 22, Russia says.
A large fire engulfed the roof of Moscow’s Crocus City Hall and dramatic video shows panicked concertgoers taking cover as shots and explosions ring out.
President Vladimir Putin says all four gunmen have been arrested, and that the suspects were trying to flee to Ukraine – Kyiv says allegations of Ukrainian involvement are “absurd”.
Vladimir Putin calls the attack a “barbaric terrorist act” and announces a day of national mourning for March 24.
Image source: Reuters
Muscovites are queuing to give blood for those injured and flower tributes have been placed at the scene of the attack.
The US says it’s credible that the Islamic State group (ISIS) could be behind the attack, after the group said it did it. Russia has not commented.
The Islamic State group has issued a follow-up statement offering more details about last night’s attack on a concert hall on the outskirts of Moscow, which the group earlier said it was behind.
The new details – published via IS group accounts on messaging app Telegram – say four attackers were involved in the deadly assault, and includes a picture claiming to show the four assailants, all masked. The update comes from the group’s news outlet Amaq, which was also the source of the initial claim.
Neither of the two IS Amaq statements indicated which of IS’s regional branches was responsible for the attack.
In terms of motive, Amaq says “the attack comes in the context of normal ongoing war between the Islamic State and [anti-Islam] countries”.
The IS mouthpiece says the attack was carried out by “fighters” who it says were armed with “machine guns, a gun, knives and incendiary bombs”, and that the attack was preceded by a “concerted” reconnaissance mission.
Russia has not yet commented on the claims but the US has said it’s credible that the Islamic State group could be behind the attack.
