MOSCOW, RU – The Islamic State (ISIS) has taken credit for a deadly assault in a major concert hall in Moscow, Russia, which resulted in over 60 fatalities and nearly 150 injuries on Friday.
The assailants, clad in combat gear, stormed into Crocus City Hall where fans had gathered to enjoy a performance by the Russian band, Picnic. The attackers not only opened fire on the crowd but also tossed explosives into the venue, igniting a fire, according to reports from Russian media.
As evacuation efforts were underway, several individuals remained trapped within the burning structure.
The claim of responsibility by ISIS was made via their affiliated social media channels. The U.S. has since confirmed the claim, based on intelligence reports. Prior to the ISIS announcement, Russian authorities were treating the incident as a terrorist attack, but had not identified a responsible party.
The Investigative Committee of Russia has initiated a criminal investigation into the incident.
In the wake of the attack, Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin referred to the event as a “huge tragedy.” Former Russian President and current Deputy Chair of the Security Council of the Russian Federation, Dmitry Medvedev, stated on Telegram that if the attackers were found to be linked to the ‘Kiev regime’, all involved, including state officials, should be “found and destroyed.”
The attack occurred shortly after Russian President Vladimir Putin’s resounding reelection, amidst ongoing conflict in Ukraine, over two years after Russia’s invasion of the country.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy refuted any Ukrainian involvement prior to ISIS’s claim of responsibility.
In the aftermath of the attack, the Russian Culture Ministry has suspended all mass and entertainment events in the vicinity for the foreseeable future. Additionally, restrictions have been imposed in several regions, including Leningrad, Voronezh, Vologda, and others, with all sports, cultural, and other mass events being cancelled in Moscow this weekend.