IRIA News

A group of gunmen stormed a concert hall in Moscow and opened fire with automatic weapons at an unsuspecting crowd on March 22, 2024, resulting in the deaths of at least 137 individuals. The attack has been attributed to militants affiliated with the Islamic State (ISIS).

The Russian Investigative Committee told TASS, “As the rubble was being removed in the concert hall of the Crocus City Hall, the number of people killed in the terrorist attack has risen… The search operation is underway.” The Moscow Region Health Ministry said that 182 people were injured.

In what marks the deadliest assault in Russia since the 2004 Beslan school siege, gunmen opened fire on civilians just moments before the Soviet-era rock band “Picnic” was scheduled to perform in front of a packed audience at the 6,200-seat Crocus City Hall, located just west of the capital.

Horrifying videos of the terror attack circulating on social media showed individuals shooting civilians at point-blank range. The attackers, dressed in camouflage gear, initially took their seats inside the hall before frantically starting to fire with automatic weapons.

The terror attack triggered a rush towards the exits amidst the backdrop of repeated gunfire intermingled with screams. Additional footage captured the gunmen firing at clusters of people, with some victims seen lying still amidst pools of blood.

In some videos the Crocus City Hall, housing both the music hall and a shopping center, can be seen engulfed in flames with smoke rising into the air.

According to the state-run RIA Novosti, the armed attackers initiated their attack with gunfire using automatic weapons and hurled either a grenade or an incendiary device, igniting the fire. Subsequently, they purportedly escaped in a white Renault car, as reported by the news agency.

Vladimir Putin has wished all those injured in the Crocus City Hall terrorist attack a recovery and conveyed compliments to medical staff, Deputy Prime Minister Tatyana Golikova said:https://t.co/FpHqvmeg4G pic.twitter.com/QPyLJ0Uk0u

— TASS (@tassagency_en) March 23, 2024

The fire was brought largely under control shortly after the attack. “There are still some pockets of fire, but the fire has been mostly eliminated,” Moscow governor Andrey Vorobyov said on Telegram six hours after the attack.

A SWAT team rushed to the site shortly after the attack, while over 70 ambulance teams and medical professionals assisted the victims. Hundreds of victims were evacuated after that attack, according to the local fire department.

The Russian Emergencies Ministry’s regional office said in a statement, “At 7:18 p.m. [Moscow time] (4:18 p.m. GMT), it was said that the open burning had been eliminated.”

Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin called the attack a “terrible tragedy.” “My condolences to the loved ones of the victims. I gave orders to provide all necessary assistance to everyone who suffered during the incident,” Sobyanin said in a statement.

Suspects arrested

Initially, four men directly involved were among 11 arrested, Russian officials said. According to Russia’s Investigative Committee, the four suspects were apprehended in the Bryansk region of western Russia, described as “not far from the border with Ukraine.”

The plan was to cross into Ukraine, as stated by Russia’s FSB, noting that the suspects had established contacts there. Tass, the state news agency, reported that soon after the attack, the head of the FSB briefed President Vladimir Putin on the situation.

Russian investigators published pictures of a Kalashnikov automatic weapon, vests with multiple spare magazines, and bags of spent bullet casings that the arrested suspects were carrying.

According to one video posted on RT Editor-in-Chief Margarita Simonyan’s Telegram channel, a man was detained by the Russian security forces for involvement in the Crocus City Hall attack has said he was promised a reward of 500,000 rubles ($5,400).

The video showed the detained man saying, “I shot down people at the Crocus for money; [I was promised] about 500,000.” The man added that half the money had been transferred to his card, while he had been promised he would receive the other half later.

Three days after the attack, Russian security forces arrested two brothers named Aminchon Islomov and Dilovar Islomov as well as their father Isroil Islomov. According to Tass, all three individuals were born in Dushanbe, Tajikistan. The brothers are Russian citizens, while their father is a Tajikistan national. Earlier, Moscow’s Basmanny District Court arrested four perpetrators of the terror attack, namely Dalerdjon Mirzoyev, Saidakrami Rachabaliizoda, Shamsidin Fariduni, and Faizov.

The attacks come shortly after Putin solidified his control over power through a meticulously orchestrated election. Russia’s Putin secured an overwhelming victory in Russian elections against minimal opposition. This incident, the deadliest in Russia in recent years, coincided with the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, which has entered its third year.

Blame on Ukraine

The Kremlin refrained from immediately assigning blame for the attack, although some Russian lawmakers swiftly pointed fingers at Ukraine and advocated for escalating strikes. Before the attack, the Russian military initiated a widespread assault on Ukraine’s power infrastructure, targeting the nation’s largest hydroelectric plant and other energy facilities. This action resulted in over a million people being left without electricity.

Kyiv officials have denied allegations and accused Russia of falsely suggesting it was to blame for the terrorist attack in Moscow.

Dmitry Medvedev, deputy head of Russia’s Security Council, said that if Ukraine’s involvement was proven, all those involved “must be tracked down and killed without mercy, including officials of the state that committed such outrage.”

Kyiv officials denied allegations and accused Russia of falsely suggesting it was to blame for the terrorist attack in Moscow.

Mykhailo Podolyak, an adviser to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, dismissed any suggestion of Ukrainian involvement. “Ukraine has never employed terrorist tactics,” he stated on Twitter. “In this conflict, victory will be achieved solely through military means.”

Islamic State (ISIS) involvement

The militant group Islamic State, known for its active involvement in terror attacks largely in the Middle East and dominance in parts of Iraq and Syria, accepted responsibility for the attack, as stated by the group’s Amaq agency on Telegram.

Islamic State claimed that its fighters launched an assault on the outskirts of Moscow, resulting in “hundreds killed and wounded and significant destruction inflicted upon the area before they safely retreated to their bases.” The statement provided no additional information about the motivation behind the attack or the number of attackers involved.

A U.S. official stated that the United States intelligence verified Islamic State’s acknowledgment of responsibility for the shooting. The official revealed that Washington had cautioned Moscow in the weeks leading up to the incident about the potential for an attack.

Russia, however, has not yet attributed responsibility to any specific group and says the investigation is still ongoing.

US had warned of potential attack

Earlier this month, the U.S. embassy in Russia stated that it was monitoring reports indicating that extremists were planning to target large gatherings in Moscow, including concerts.

The embassy cautioned U.S. citizens to avoid participating in such events. Subsequently, after news of the attack at Crocus City Hall emerged, the embassy advised U.S. citizens against traveling to Russia.

Adrienne Watson, spokesperson for the U.S. National Security Council, stated that the U.S. government had received intelligence regarding a potential terrorist attack in Moscow, possibly aimed at large gatherings such as concerts. This information prompted the State Department to issue a public advisory.

“The U.S. government also shared this information with Russian authorities in accordance with its longstanding ‘duty to warn’ policy,” Watson said.

World reaction to Moscow terror attack

United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres strongly denounced the terrorist attack on Moscow, Crocus City Hall in a statement by his deputy spokesperson, Farhan Haq. “The secretary-general conveys his deep condolences to the bereaved families and the people and the government of the Russian Federation. He wishes those injured a speedy recovery,” the statement said. In a separate statement, the UN Security Council called the attack “heinous and cowardly.”

NATO spokesperson Farah Dakhlallah that “We unequivocally condemn the attacks targeting concertgoers in Moscow. Nothing can justify such heinous crimes. Our deepest condolences to the victims and their families.”

The U.S. White House spokesman John Kirby said in a statement, “The images are just horrible and just hard to watch, and our thoughts obviously are going to be with the victims of this terrible, terrible shooting attack.”

Secretary General of Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) Helga Schmid also condemned the terrorist attack and wrote on X (Twitter), “Dreadful news from the Crocus City Hall in Moscow. Our thoughts are with the victims of the attack and their families. Such acts of terrorism are abhorrent and must be condemned in the strongest possible terms.”

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan condemned the attack and said “Terrorism is unacceptable no matter who it comes from or who the perpetrator is.” Erdogan said during a public rally in Ankara, “We strongly condemn this heinous terrorist attack targeting innocent civilians,” adding that Turkiye shared Russia’s pain and “We’ll continue to fight against terror, the common enemy of the humanity.”

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen also condemned the terrorist attack in Russia against civilians and said “My thoughts are with the victims and their families during this tragic time.”

I strongly condemn the terrorist attack against civilians in the Crocus City Hall in Moscow claimed by the Islamic State.

My thoughts are with the victims and their families during this tragic time.

— Ursula von der Leyen (@vonderleyen) March 23, 2024

Chinese leader Xi Jinping extended his condolences to Putin regarding the significant terrorist attack that resulted in substantial casualties. The Chinese president stressed that “China opposes all forms of terrorism, strongly condemns the terrorist attack, and firmly supports the Russian government’s efforts to safeguard its national security and stability.”

French President Emmanuel Macron also denounced “the terrorist attack claimed by the Islamic State.” Macron said in a statement released by the Elysee Palace, “France stands in solidarity with the victims, their families, and all the Russian people.”

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz posted on his social media account, “We condemn the terrible terrorist attack on innocent concertgoers in Moscow. Our thoughts are with the families of the victims and all those injured.” Germany’s foreign ministry also condemned the attack and said, “The images of the horrific attack on innocent people at Crocus City Hall near Moscow are horrific. The background must be clarified quickly. Our deepest condolences go out to the families of the victims.”

UK Foreign Minister David Cameron condemned “in the strongest terms the deadly terrorist attack” and offered “heartfelt condolences and express our deepest sympathy to the families of the many victims.”

The UK condemns in the strongest terms the deadly terrorist attack at the Crocus City Hall near Moscow.

We offer our heartfelt condolences and express our deepest sympathy to the families of the many victims.

Nothing can ever justify such horrific violence.

— David Cameron (@David_Cameron) March 23, 2024

Leaders and foreign ministries of several other countries including Italy, Spain, Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Poland, Japan, Saudi Arabia, UAE, Egypt, India, Afghanistan, Palestinian Authority, Israel, Syria, Malaysia, Venezuela, and Cuba denounced the attack.