At least 60 people are dead and several injured after gunmen open fired at a rock concert in a suburb of Moscow on Friday.
The incident took place after a group of armed men stormed into Crocus City Hall concert venue in Moscow and opened fire and detonated explosives.
This terror attack came days after Russian President Vladimir Putin cemented his grip on the country in a highly orchestrated electoral landslide.
Hours later, the Islamic State (ISIS) claimed responsibility for the massive attack. In a short statement published by ISIS-affiliated news agency Amaq, the terror group claimed that it attacked a large gathering in Krasnogorsk on Moscow’s outskirts. However ISIS has not provided any evidence to support the claim.
By cancelling all public events in the capital, Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin said, “I am sorry for the loved ones of the victims.” In the following hours several other regions also cancelled events, including Russia’s second biggest city St Petersburg.
Meanwhile, Russian authorities said a hunt has been launched for the attackers and that a terrorism investigation has been undertaken.
Russian Foreign Ministry official, Maria Zakharova remarked, “The entire world community is obliged to condemn this monstrous crime. All efforts are being thrown at saving people.”
Several other countries including India, European Union, France, Spain, Italy condemned the attack.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi took to X platform where he wrote, “India stands in solidarity with the government and the people of the Russian Federation in this hour of grief.”
United Nations Security Council in a statement said, “The members of the Security Council condemned in the strongest terms the heinous and cowardly terrorist attack at a concert hall in Krasnogorsk. The members of the Security Council underlined the need to hold perpetrators, organizers, financiers and sponsors of these reprehensible acts of terrorism accountable and bring them to justice.”
Condemning the attack, The European Union said it was shocked and appalled by the attack.
White House spokesman John Kirby said the images of the shooting were horrible and hard to watch. He said, “Our thoughts obviously are going to be with the victims of this terrible, terrible shooting attack.”
Meanwhile, French President Emmanuel Macron said, “France expresses its solidarity with the victims, their loved ones and all the Russian people.”
As per reports, security has now been tightened at airports and stations. Helicopters were also deployed in an attempt to douse the flames that had engulfed the building. In the early hours of Saturday morning, authorities said most of the fire had been put out.
