Witnesses report loud explosions

More than 60 people were killed in a terrorist attack on the evening of March 22 at the Crocus City Hall concert venue in the city of Krasnogorsk, Moscow region, a source in Russia's Investigative Committee told state news agency TASS.

“Preliminary information indicates that the terrorist attack has left more than 60 people dead. Unfortunately, the death toll may rise,” the source said.

Investigators, criminologists and experts of the Russian Investigative Committee, as well as professional units of the Interior Ministry and the Federal Security Service of Russia, are continuing investigative activities at the scene, the source added.

At first, the guests who were on their way to Crocus City Hall and were still far from the entrance mistook the gunshots for noise caused by installation work there, one of the witnesses told TASS.

“First, we started hearing typical loud bangs, but we couldn’t believe it was gunshots. We thought something was falling, because the exhibits were being dismantled at that time and it seemed like someone was dropping something big. Then it became clear that there were gunshots,” eyewitness Mikhail Semyonov told TASS.

One witness said he was about to take his seat when he heard “a lot of machine gun fire” and “a lot of screaming”. “I immediately realised it was automatic gunfire and understood that it could be the worst: a terrorist attack,” the man named Alexei told AFP.

Another spectator described scenes of panic as terrified people tried to escape. “A stampede started. Everyone was running for the escalators,” he told Reuters. “Everyone was screaming and running.”

Gunmen storm Crocus City Hall (left) and the fire is seen from outside (right). Photo: Sky News

Unidentified gunmen armed with assault rifles opened fire. An explosion rocked the building, causing a fire. In addition to the death toll, authorities said at least 145 people were injured and rushed to hospitals. Authorities are conducting a search operation at the scene.

In his first comments on the shooting, Russian President Vladimir Putin wished all those injured in the terrorist attack a speedy recovery.

Moscow Mayor Sergey Sobyanin, calling the attack a “huge tragedy,” said local authorities had canceled all cultural, sports and other mass events in the capital for the next two days, and several other regions of Russia have followed suit.

The state news agency RIA quoted a spokesman for the Russian Investigative Committee as saying on March 23 that it was too early to say anything about the attackers' whereabouts.

At least three emergency helicopters were dispatched to extinguish a fire that broke out in Crocus City, Moscow region, following a terrorist attack on the evening of March 22, 2024. Photo: TASS

An Afghan branch of the Islamic State (IS) terrorist group, known as ISIS-K, has claimed responsibility for the Moscow attack. In a post on Telegram, the group said its fighters had escaped. A US official said Washington had intelligence confirming the IS claim.

Photos showed Crocus engulfed in flames while videos emerged showing at least four gunmen opening fire with automatic weapons as panicked Russians ran for their lives.

Children were among the victims of the attack, which also appeared to have been detonated by the attackers, according to media reports. At least two explosions occurred at the concert hall on the evening of March 22, news agencies reported.

At least three emergency helicopters were deployed to extinguish the fire. Local media reported that part of the roof of the Crocus City shopping mall collapsed.

By late evening, Russian authorities had launched a massive manhunt for the gunmen involved in the attack, warning residents in Moscow and its suburbs to be on the lookout for signs of the attackers. The Russian government did not immediately identify any suspects .

Minh Duc (According to TASS, The Guardian)

Source: https://www.nguoiduatin.vn/vu-tan-cong-khung-bo-o-moscow-nhan-chung-ke-ve-nhung-tieng-no-lon-a655456.html