Moscow attack latest: At least 40 dead at concert hall, says Russian intelligence service - BBC News
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"New Info On Victims Unveiled"
According to Mikhail Murashko, who is the Health Minister of Russia, there are currently 115 individuals receiving medical care in hospitals. Of those hospitalized individuals, five are children.
He stated that there are 60 individuals who are in a critical state as victims.
Security Questioned As Search For Attackers Persists
The editor of BBC Russia is currently located in the city of Moscow.
We've received new details which indicate that the culprits managed to flee the scene, maybe in a vehicle that is colored white.
We are currently on a mission to locate them and uncover their identity.
Ukraine denies involvement in the attack while the Islamic State has reportedly claimed responsibility.
There has been no response from Russian authorities regarding this matter. Vladimir Putin has not made any statements publicly, but it has been reported that he has been informed about the situation as it progresses.
At present, security measures have been increased in Moscow, specifically in crucial areas such as railway stations and airports.
There are concerns being raised about how a group of armed individuals managed to enter a well-known concert venue with high attendance and execute a brutal assault. This is especially perplexing since American authorities had issued a warning about the likelihood of such an incident occurring.
Foreign Officials React
Foreign authorities have been responding to the incidents that took place in Moscow today:
Flame Fight: Firefighters At Crocus City Hall
IS Claims Responsibility: Recent Report
According to reports from Reuters news agency, Islamic State has taken responsibility for the attack on their Telegram channel.
The report hasn't been confirmed by an independent source. The organization, otherwise referred to as ISIS, has committed violent acts in numerous nations, yet BBC's security expert Gordon Corera points out that the organization has previously taken credit for attacks that had no association to them.
Russia's security agency, the FSB, announced on March 7th that it successfully thwarted a planned assault on a synagogue in Moscow by an ISIL group.
The FSB reported that during the attempt to arrest, the attackers fired and were stopped by retaliatory shooting. However, there is little information available about the supposed plan.
"Russia's Ex-leader Demands Ruthless Destruction Of Culprits"
Dmitry Medvedev, who held the position of Russia's president for a short time, expressed on Telegram that the individuals accountable for the attack ought to be "discovered and completely obliterated," specifically if they were influenced by "the Kyiv regime."
Since Russia invaded Ukraine, Medvedev's language has become more intense, particularly when discussing Ukraine and its allies. Currently, he serves as the deputy leader of Russia's security council.
Scene Photos Captured
Additional pictures have surfaced of the area outside Crocus City Hall located in close proximity to Moscow. The site was the scene of a vicious strike resulting in a tragic loss of life, with at least 40 individuals perishing and over 100 people suffering injuries.
Russia Cancels Events Due To COVID-19
Earlier, we reported that all major events in Moscow have been called off for this weekend.
Currently, the culture ministry has issued a mandate to extend the regulations to the entirety of Russia.
At present time, we have gathered some information regarding the assault that happened earlier tonight:
Dozens Of Children Injured In Incident
As per a Moscow official quoted by Russia's Ria news agency, kids got hurt during the shooting incident that occurred at the concert hall in Moscow tonight.
Earlier, someone who chose to remain unknown reported that a group of young people, including both kids and teenagers, were participating in a ballroom dancing contest when gunfire erupted. Their guardians were also present at the event.
At the competition, kids and adolescents were present. Folks arrived and notified about gunfire. This led to chaos and panic. The young ones rushed out, even in their fancy dance attire.
US Embassy 'Shocked' In Surprise Attack
The Moscow US embassy released a statement expressing their dismay about the assault and offering their heartfelt sympathies to the citizens of Russia.
The embassy is suggesting that individuals from the United States should stay away from the location where the assault occurred.
The US government has been cautioned that they have severe limitations in providing assistance to their citizens residing in Russia, particularly those located outside of the Moscow embassy. The Russian government has restrictions in place that prevent US personnel from traveling freely, thus hindering their ability to provide aid.
In the past two weeks, the United States gave out a cautionary notice to its people, stating that its authorities were keeping tabs on some accounts that suggest radical groups may have imminent plans to focus on big crowds in Moscow, specifically concerts.
The advisory cautioned citizens to abstain from attending big events for two days. Although that duration has expired, the resemblances between the advisory and current affairs indicate that a correlation could exist.
'Alive And Safe': Picnic Musicians And Management
The concert hall was scheduled to host a performance by the Russian rock band Picnic when the assault occurred.
They recently updated their Instagram account to let everyone know that they are "unharmed and out of danger".
Their statement mentioned a sorrowful incident whose magnitude is not yet quantifiable.
We are keeping track of updates and anticipating confirmation from authoritative sources. The performers and administration are unharmed and secure.
Russian Media Reports Fire Under Control
Interfax, a Russian news agency, reports that the city hall blaze has been successfully contained by firefighters, preventing further spread of the massive fire.
Hunt For Attackers Continues
The Russian guards are currently on the lookout for the individuals who carried out the assault on Crocus City Hall.
Russia's Federal Security Service, known as FSB, has reported that more than 100 individuals have sustained injuries and 40 others have lost their lives.
Putin Stays Informed On Situation
The Kremlin spokesperson, Dmitry Peskov, has stated that the current events at Crocus City Hall are being consistently reported to the Russian President, Vladimir Putin.
According to Peskov, Vladimir Putin received information about the onset of gunfire at Crocus City Hall in the initial moments of the incident.
Russian Band Set To Rock Concert Hall
The Crocus City Hall, located in Krasnogorsk, a suburb situated in the north-west of Moscow, has the capacity to accommodate numerous individuals and has previously welcomed renowned musicians from around the world.
A video circulating on social media depicted a group of men carrying weapons as they entered the entrance hall before commencing a gunfire attack.
A violent incident occurred just prior to a Picnic concert, a well-known rock group that had announced a sell-out show on Instagram.
As per the reports by Russian media, around 6,200 tickets had been bought for the concert scheduled for tonight, however, the exact number of people present at the time of the attack is still unknown.
According to Russian news sources, the shooting did not inflict any harm upon the band members.
"Confirming Incident Footage"
Individuals have been recording videos within the concert venue utilizing their mobile devices and sharing them on social networking platforms. At BBC Verify, we've been conducting an investigation and gathering information as the events occur.
We have confirmed the authenticity of a video which shows a group of individuals exiting a venue due to an apparent issue.
Out of nowhere, the sound of bullets being fired fills the air. Individuals begin to yell and scatter in fear.
At the moment, it's challenging to determine the exact quantity of individuals who are partaking in the situation. However, from one particular video clip, it's evident that there is a vast crowd present in the hallway.
We have confirmed another video that was recorded inside the hall. This video displays a magnified view of individuals who seem to be shooters, randomly firing their weapons.
In another video footage, four individuals armed with guns were caught shooting in the entrance area of the location. Multiple injuries were seen lying on the ground.
We have also confirmed footage captured from the exterior of the music venue that seems to reveal the structure engulfed in flames, accompanied by voluminous clouds of smoke emanating from it.
We are still gathering information about the incident and reviewing the video footage as it becomes available.
Guard Recounts Start Of Attack On Site
A security officer at the main entrance of the hall shared what he saw with Telegram channel Baza. We cannot verify his statement, but it aligns with some of the footage that has surfaced on the internet.
He recounts the manner in which he and his three comrades managed to make it through the assault unscathed.
I was at the main entrance on the first floor when the gunfire erupted.
Gunshots were fired from the exterior which resulted in the windows breaking. Three additional security personnel were located near the entrance, where they sought refuge behind a promotional board. The assailants proceeded past us at a distance of 10 meters (30 feet).
This group of individuals began firing aimlessly at individuals located on the bottom level and proceeded towards either the music venue or the large aquatic animal exhibit.
After the gunfire ceased, we exited through the main doorway and the staff were already assisting the injured individuals.
"Navalny's Widow Shares On Incident"
Yulia Navalnaya, the spouse of the opposition leader of Russia, Alexei Navalny, has offered her sympathies to the sufferers of the assault that happened today, labeling it as a "Crocus nightmare".
She expressed on X, which was formerly known as Twitter, that it is crucial to locate and hold accountable every individual who participated in this illegal act.
Zelensky Aide Denies Ukraine's Involvement In Attack
We have received word from a member of Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelensky's staff, confirming that their country is not involved in the recent attack in the vicinity of Moscow.
Mykhailo Podolyak made it quite evident in a post on Telegram that Ukraine has absolutely no connection to the ongoing events.
Just a heads up that Ukraine and Russia have been in conflict for the past couple of years, ever since Russian troops took over Ukraine in February of 2022.
