Watan-At least 40 people were killed and more than 100 others were injured in an attack on Friday, on a music concert hall in the Crocus city of Moscow, according to the Russian Federal Security Service.
Interfax news agency quoted the Russian Federal Security Service as saying, based on preliminary information, that 40 people were killed and more than 100 others were injured as a result of a terrorist attack in a hall in Crocus city.
The Russian Foreign Ministry described the incident as a “terrorist attack” that must be condemned.
Details of the bloody Moscow attack
According to ndtv, attackers wearing camouflage clothing entered the building, opened fire, and threw a hand grenade or an incendiary bomb, according to a journalist at the Ria Novosti news agency who was at the scene.
According to the source, fire quickly spread in the Crocus city hall, north of the Russian capital, where the theater accommodates several thousand people and has hosted several music concerts for top international artists, according to reports.
A Ria Novosti journalist reported that automatic weapons were fired at the audience.
The journalist was quoted as saying, “People in the hall lay on the ground to protect themselves from gunfire for 15 or 20 minutes.”
روسيا: أكثر من 40 قتيلاً و100 جريح بعد أن أطلقت مجموعة من المسلحين النار وفجرت عدة عبوات ناسفة في قاعة للحفلات الموسيقية في موسكو .
هل ستكون حرباً ثالثة تضرب الظالمين في بعضهم البعض . pic.twitter.com/DcxlQO9Ylu
— Tamer | تامر (@tamerqdh) March 22, 2024
The journalist mentioned that people began to crawl out when the situation became safe, adding that security forces were at the scene.
The Emergency Situations Ministry said on its Telegram channel that about 100 people escaped through the theater’s basement while others took refuge on the roof.
Flames and Smoke
The “Baza” and “Mash” news channels close to the security forces on the “Telegram” app displayed video images of flames and black smoke rising from the music concert hall.
Other images showed two men walking in the hall with at least one person lying on the ground near the entrance. Spectators were also seen hiding behind seats or attempting to escape.
A video clip taken from the theater balcony and recorded by “Vatan” showed several gunmen in the lobby firing randomly at whoever they found in their way.
🔷 الٱن
هجوم إرهابي على #روسيا في موسكو ،هناك أنباء عن قتلى وجرحى ،في حين مازالت القوات الخاصة تشتبك مع الإرهابيين pic.twitter.com/JrFtTbHPUP— Muhammet Erdoğan 🇹🇷- محمد أردوغان (@Muhamed_Erdogan) March 22, 2024
Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova described the attack as a “terrorist attack.” She said via the Telegram app: “The entire international community must condemn this heinous crime.”
The US presidency described the attack as “horrific,” but said there was no immediate indication of any connection to the war in Ukraine. Moscow Mayor, with a large security operation around the theater and the nearby shopping center, said, “My condolences to the families of the victims.”
Sobyanin said he canceled all public events in Moscow during the weekend.
The TASS news agency said that SOBR, special police forces, and the OMON riot police unit were sent to the Crocus hall.
“Moscow Theater Hostage Crisis”
The source added that all members of the rock band were safely evacuated. This bloody attack recalled the “Moscow Theater Hostage Crisis” on October 23, 2002.
When between 40 and 50 militants belonging to the Chechen Republic attacked the crowded Moscow theater and held 850 hostages, demanding the withdrawal of Russian forces from Chechnya and an end to the Second Chechen War.
The siege was led by Movsar Barayev. After two and a half days of the siege, Russian special forces pumped chemical gas into the ventilation openings in the building and then stormed it.
At least 39 of the attackers were killed by Russian forces, and at least 129 hostages (including 9 foreigners) were killed, most of them due to the toxic substance.”