In tonight’s terrorist attack on the “Crocus City Hall” concert hall near Moscow, according to preliminary data, 40 people were killed and more than 100 were injured, the Russian Federal Security Service announced.
The attackers entered the ground floor of “Crocus City Hall” in Krasnogorsk and opened fire with automatic weapons, and then threw a hand or incendiary bomb.
The fire engulfed a third of the building of the concert hall, and the roof was almost completely engulfed in flames, according to a report by the TASS news agency.
Speaking about the terrorists, one of the eyewitnesses described that there are at least five people who act like “trained militants”.
When they approached the concert hall, he said, they killed the security guards and concertgoers who were standing at the door, and then blocked the main entrance.
They are armed with Kalashnikov rifles, some of them are wearing vests with ammunition, at least two have backpacks.
The Regional Ministry for Emergency Situations announced that around 100 people were evacuated from the basement of the concert hall, and an operation to rescue people from the roof of the building is underway.
More than 70 ambulance crews arrived at the scene, officials said. Russia’s Federal Security Service said it was taking “all necessary measures” in connection with the shooting.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation called the attack a bloody act of terrorism.
The mayor of Moscow, Sergei Sobyanin, said that a terrible tragedy had occurred and expressed his condolences to the families of the victims, and all mass gatherings were cancelled.
Vnukovo, Domodedovo, Sheremetyevo and Žukovski airports have increased security measures, Rosavicia announced. Russian railways have also increased security measures, Srna news agency writes.
