Photo credit: Sahara reporters.
The Islamic State group has claimed responsibility for the attack at a concert hall in Moscow, Russia. They shared a statement on social media channels associated with the group.
In a statement by its Aamaq news agency, the Islamic State group claimed responsibility for attacking a large gathering of Christians in Krasnogorsk, near Moscow. The attack at a concert hall in Moscow resulted in over 60 deaths and more than 100 injuries.
Gunmen opened fire at the concert hall, causing casualties and a fire. The incident occurred shortly after President Putin’s reelection. The perpetrators threw explosives, causing a major fire at the Crocus City Hall. The attack took place during a concert by the Russian rock band Picnic, with reports of people trapped inside. Men in combat gear entered the hall and shot at visitors.
Multiple videos posted by Russian media and Telegram channels captured extended gunfire at the attack of concert hall in Moscow. Footage showed armed perpetrators moving through the hall, setting it on fire, and shooting at people point-blank. The Governor of the Moscow region, Andrei Vorobyov, set up a task force to address the situation. Riot police were dispatched for evacuation as security was heightened at airports and railway stations. The White House expressed condolences for the victims and condemned the attack. The US Embassy had previously issued a warning about potential attacks in crowded places in Moscow. President Putin, emboldened by his reelection, dismissed Western warnings as attempts to intimidate Russians.All tickets for the concert were sold out, with potentially 7,200 people inside the building. Russia’s culture ministry has announced the cancellation of all entertainment and mass events in the country.
The US Embassy in Russia and the UK Foreign Ministry issued warnings regarding potential terrorist attacks in Moscow two weeks ago. Russia has previously experienced deadly terror attacks during the early 2000s in the midst of the Chechen war. In 2002, Chechen militants held 800 hostages at a Moscow theater, resulting in the deaths of 170 individuals primarily due to the use of narcotic gas by Russian forces. In 2004, Chechan militants seized a school in Beslan, leading to a two-day siege and the tragic deaths of over 330 people, including numerous children. Critics of Putin’s regime have raised concerns that these terrorist attacks may have been inside job by the FSB.
