At least 60 people were reported killed and over 140 others were injured yesterday night in a terrorist attack on crowds that gathered for a concert at Crocus City Hall, a multipurpose hall in Moscow’s suburb Krasnogorsk.
Witnesses say three to five people dressed in combat uniforms were involved in the attack. Footage from the scene showed assailants opening fire from rifles on civilians running in fear in all directions. Other footage showed a number of people lying motionless in pools of blood outside the concert hall. The attackers also set the venue ablaze.
The Moldovan Embassy in Moscow condemned the attack and expressed condolences to the victims. Condemnation of the attack is pouring in from all over the world.
Earlier it was reported that the US Embassy in Russia had warned at the beginning of this month about the existence of “extremist plans” to attack Moscow. The embassy issued the warning after the FSB said it had foiled an attack on a Moscow synagogue by a cell of the Sunni Muslim militant group Islamic State.
Russia has called for the UN Security Council to be convened. Meanwhile, Ukraine’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs has rejected Russian officials’ accusations of Ukraine’s involvement in the tragedy. The ministry also called on the international community to reject Russian accusations of Ukraine’s alleged involvement in the Moscow massacre and to step up support in countering Russian aggression against Ukraine.