Ambulances and vehicles of Russian emergency services are parked outside the burning Crocus City Hall concert venue following a shooting incident, outside Moscow, Russia, March 22, 2024. (Photo: Reuters)Moscow Concert Attack Live Updates (Saturday, March 23): In an address to the nation on Saturday, Russian President Vladmir Putin suggested that Ukraine was linked to the attack on Moscow’s Crocus City Hall. The death toll in Friday’s attack has now risen to 143, news agency Reuters reported. All those responsible for the deadly attack would be punished, Putin said, declaring March 24 “a day of national mourning.” So far, 11 people including four suspected gunmen have been arrested, the Kremlin said. Earlier, the Islamic State group claimed responsibility for the attack in a statement posted on affiliated channels on social media.
Condemning the attack, the United States on Saturday said it stands in solidarity with the people of Russia. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, in a post on X, said: “We send our deepest condolences to the families and loved ones of those killed and all affected by this heinous crime. We condemn terrorism in all its forms and stand in solidarity with the people of Russia in grieving the loss of life from this horrific event.” Earlier in the day, leaders from across the world, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi condemned the deadliest attack in the capital region in more than a decade.
What has President Putin said? President Putin, addressing the nation on Saturday, said that some people on the Ukrainian side had prepared to let them cross the border from Russia. However, Ukraine has denied any involvement in the attack. Putin cast the enemy as “international terrorism” and said that he was ready to work with any state which wanted to defeat it. “All the perpetrators, organisers and those who ordered this crime will be justly and inevitably punished. Whoever they are, whoever is guiding them,” Putin said. He also said that additional security measures have been imposed throughout Russia, and he declared March 24 (Sunday) to be a day of national mourning.
Firefighters work near the burning Crocus City Hall concert venue following a shooting incident, outside Moscow, Russia, March 23, 2024. (Photo: Reuters)
A digital board with a date and a slogan, that reads "We mourn" displayed in memory of victims of the shooting incident, is seen opposite the burning Crocus City Hall concert venue on the outskirts of Moscow, Russia, March 23, 2024. (Photo: Reuters)
Ambulances are reflected in windows of the burning Crocus City Hall concert venue following a shooting incident, outside Moscow, Russia, March 22, 2024. (Photo: Reuters)
We stand in solidarity with the people of Russia: US
"The United States strongly condemns the March 22 terrorist attack in Moscow. We stand in solidarity with the people of Russia in grieving the loss of life after this horrific event," Secretary Antony Blinken in a post on X.
EU President, German Chancellor condemn terrorist attack in Russia
In a post on X, EU President said, "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." Additionally, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz also condemned the ISIS-claimed terrorist attack. He said his thoughts are with the victims' families and all those injured.
"We condemn the terrible terrorist attack on innocent concertgoers in Moscow. Our thoughts are with the families of the victims and all those injured," Chancellor Scholz posted on X.
EU President, German Chancellor condemn terrorist attack in Russia
In a post on X, EU President said, "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." Additionally, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz also condemned the ISIS-claimed terrorist attack. He said his thoughts are with the victims' families and all those injured.
"We condemn the terrible terrorist attack on innocent concertgoers in Moscow. Our thoughts are with the families of the victims and all those injured," Chancellor Scholz posted on X.
What attacks has ISIS-K carried out?
The group has been responsible for a host of high-profile attacks since its inception. These include:
Earlier this month, the top US general in West Asia said that ISIS-K could attack US and Western interests outside of Afghanistan, “in as little as six months and with little to no warning”, Reuters reported.
In an address to the nation, Putin called it “a bloody, barbaric terrorist act” and said all four people who were directly involved had been taken into custody. He suggested they had been trying to cross the border into Ukraine which, he said, tried to create a “window” to help them escape.
Ukraine has strongly denied any involvement in the attack. Putin said Saturday that additional security measures have been imposed throughout the country and declared March 24 a day of national mourning.
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Indian National Congress condemns terror attack in Moscow
In a post on X, Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge said, "The Indian National Congress strongly condemns the dastardly terrorist attack on innocent people in Moscow. Terrorism is the biggest threat to humanity and peace." "Our heart goes out to the families of the victims and in this hour of sorrow, we strongly stand shoulder to shoulder with the people of Russia and the Russian Federation," he said.
Here is information about the Islamic State's Afghan branch known as ISIS-K and their possible motives for attacking Russia:
Islamic State Khorasan (ISIS-K), named after an old term for the region that included parts of Iran, Turkmenistan and Afghanistan, emerged in eastern Afghanistan in late 2014 and quickly established a reputation for extreme brutality.
One of the most active regional affiliates of the Islamic State militant group, ISIS-K has seen its membership decline since peaking around 2018. The Taliban and U.S. forces inflicted heavy losses.While the attack by ISIS-K in Russia on Friday was a dramatic escalation, experts said the group has opposed Russian President Vladimir Putin in recent years.
"ISIS-K has been fixated on Russia for the past two years, frequently criticizing Putin in its propaganda," said Colin Clarke of Soufan Center, a New York-based research group.
Here's what Putin said in his address to the nation following the Moscow terror attack
Talking about the investigation, Putin said the following:
"All four direct perpetrators of the terrorist attack, all those who shot and killed people, were found and detained. They tried to hide and moved towards Ukraine, where, according to preliminary data, a window was prepared for them from the Ukrainian side to cross the state border. A total of 11 people were detained."
"The Federal Security Service of Russia and other law enforcement agencies are working to identify and uncover the entire terrorist support base: those who provided them with transport, planned escape routes from the crime scene, prepared caches, caches of weapons and ammunition..."
"It is already obvious that we are faced not just with a carefully and cynically planned terrorist attack, but with the organised mass murder of peaceful defenceless people. The criminals were cold-blooded and purposefully going to kill, shoot our citizens at point-blank range - our children."
--Reuters
'March 24 would be a day of mourning': Russian President Vladmir Putin addresses the nation
Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Saturday that all those responsible for the deadly attack on a concert near Moscow would be punished.
Putin, addressing the nation, said that attackers had sought to escape towards Ukraine. He said preliminary information showed that some people on the Ukrainian side had prepared to let them cross the border from Russia.
He said March 24 would be a day of mourning.
Meanwhile, Ukraine not involved in Moscow attack, says Kyiv military intelligence spokesman
Ukraine was not involved in Friday's shooting attack near Moscow and suggestions of a Ukrainian link "have nothing in common with reality," a spokesman for Kyiv's military spy agency said on Saturday.
This comes after Russia's FSB security service said "all four terrorists" behind the attack at a concert hall near the capital had been arrested while heading to the Ukrainian border, and that they had contacts in Ukraine.
"This is of course another lie from the Russian special services, which has nothing in common with reality and does not stand up against any criticism," Andriy Yusov, of the Defence Ministry's Main Directorate of Intelligence, told Reuters.
FSB says gunmen arrested heading to Ukraine border
After 11 people were arrested in connection with the attack, the FSB security service said 'all four terrorists (suspected gunmen)' had been arrested while heading to the Ukrainian border, and that they had contacts in Ukraine. It said they were being transferred to Moscow.
Militant Islamist group Islamic State claimed responsibility for Friday's attack, the deadliest in Russia for 20 years. But there were indications that Russia was pursuing a Ukrainian link, despite a statement from Ukrainian presidential adviser Mykhailo Podolyak that Kyiv had nothing to do with it.
Death toll jumps to 143; 11 arrested, including four suspected gunmen, Kremlin says
Russia has arrested 11 people including four suspected gunmen in connection with a shooting rampage that killed at least 143 people in a concert hall near Moscow, the Kremlin said on Saturday. Militant Islamist group Islamic State claimed responsibility for Friday's attack, the deadliest in Russia for 20 years.
Here’s what we know about the Moscow attack so far:
? A few men in camouflage entered into the Crocus City Hall in Moscow and opened fire at a crowd of people who had gathered to watch a performance by the Russian rock band Picnic.
? The attack which left the concert hall in flames, killed over 60 people, and injured about 145, out of which 115 of them have been hospitalised, including five children, according to health authorities.
? Terrorist group ISIS has claimed responsibility for the attack, and in a statement posted by its Aamaq news agency, the Islamic State group said it attacked a large gathering of “Christians” in Krasnogorsk on Moscow’s outskirts, killing and wounding hundreds.
? According to some Russian media outlets, the assailants fled before special forces and riot police arrived.
? US intelligence officials confirmed the claim by the Islamic State group’s branch based in Afghanistan that it was responsible for the Moscow attack, a US official told the AP. According to the official, the US intelligence agencies had gathered information in the past weeks that the IS branch was planning an attack in Moscow, which was shared with the Russian officials earlier this month. However, the officials were not authorized to publicly discuss the information.
? Security was tightened at Moscow’s airports, railway stations and the capital’s sprawling subway system, according to Russian officials. Moscow’s mayor too canceled all mass gatherings, whereas theatres and museums were shut for the weekend. Other Russian regions also tightened security.
Death toll rises to 115
The head of Russia’s Federal Security Service told President Vladimir Putin on Saturday that four people directly involved in the attack were among 11 detained, Russian state news agency Tass said.
WATCH | Video shows moments when gunmen stormed Moscow concert hall
In video clips shared by UK-based media house The Telegraph, the assailants can be seen entering and dispersing throughout the Crocus City Hall with rifles in hand.
Death toll rises to 93
Russia’s Investigative Committee said the death toll had leapt to 93 from the attack in which camouflage-clad gunmen opened fire with automatic weapons at concertgoers near the capital on Friday.
Islamic State has claimed responsibility for the attack, the deadliest in Russia since the Beslan school siege in 2004.
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4 terrorists among 11 detained, says Kremlin
Russia has arrested 11 people including four suspected gunmen in connection with a shooting rampage that killed 93 people in a concert hall near Moscow, the Kremlin said on Saturday.
It said FSB security service chief Alexander Bortnikov had reported to President Vladimir Putin that those detained included “four terrorists” and that the service was working to identify their accomplices.
Russian lawmaker Alexander Khinshtein said the attackers had fled in a Renault vehicle that was spotted by police in Bryansk region, about 340 km (210 miles) southwest of Moscow on Friday night and disobeyed instructions to stop. (Reuters)
'Attack shows terrorism poses significant threat to Russia': Putin ally Patrushev
Top ally of Russian President Patrushev on Saturday claimed that the attack at Moscow's concert hall which killed over 90 people and left about 145 injured shows that terrorism posed a significant threat to Russia, news agency Reuters reported.
Russia detains 11 people after deadly attack by Islamic State
Eleven people have been detained following the attack, the head of Russia’s Federal Security Service told President Vladimir Putin on Saturday, according to Russian state news agency TASS.
The Islamic State group claimed responsibility for the attack in a statement posted on affiliated channels on social media.
In a statement posted by Aamaq news agency, the Islamic State group said it attacked a large gathering of “Christians” in Krasnogorsk on Moscow’s outskirts, killing and wounding hundreds. It was not immediately possible to verify the authenticity of the claim.
Death toll rises to 93, says Russia's Investigative Committee
The death toll in Friday’s attack on Moscow’s Crocus City Hall rose to 93, Russia’s Investigative Committee said, news agency Reuters reported.
Earlier in the day, leaders from across the world, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi condemned the attack at a concert hall in Moscow that has so far left 60 people dead and over a 100 injured.
Several camouflage-clad gunmen had opened fire at the popular concert on the outskirts of Moscow, the death toll from which would make it the deadliest attack in the capital region in more than a decade.
Russian Embassy in India flies national flag at half-mast after attack in Moscow
The Russian Embassy in India flew the national flag at half mast on Saturday as a sign of mourning and grief after over 60 people were killed in an attack at Moscow's Crocus City Hall.
'As a sign of mourning and grief for the victims of the terrorist attack in Moscow, the Russian Embassy in India flies the national flag at half-mast. We express our sincere condolences to the families of those deceased and wish a speedy recovery to all those injured,' the Embassy posted on X (formerly Twitter).
'Thoughts with victims of terrible, terrible shooting attack': White House
White House National Security Council spokesperson John Kirby said that the 'images of the attack were just horrible and just hard to watch," after about 60 people were killed and 145 were injured in a deadly attack at Moscow's Crocus City Hall on Friday.
"Our thoughts are gonna be with the victims of this terrible, terrible shooting attack," Kirby said.
Kirby also said that all Americans in Moscow have been asked to avoid large gatherings.
'ISIS-K fixated on Russia for the past 2 years': Colin Clarke of Soufan Center
'ISIS-K has been fixated on Russia for the past two years, frequently criticizing Putin in its propaganda,' said Colin Clarke of the Soufan Center, news agency Reuters reported.
This comes after Putin had changed the course of the Syrian civil war by intervening in 2015, supporting President Bashar al-Assad against the opposition and Islamic State.
Islamic State group has claimed responsibility for the attack in Moscow's Crocus City Hall, which killed over 60 and left 145 injured.
According to news agency Reuters, the Islamic State said its fighters attacked on the outskirts of Moscow, 'killing and wounding hundreds and causing great destruction to the place before they withdrew to their bases safely.'
The official said Washington had warned Moscow in recent weeks of the possibility of an attack. 'We did warn the Russians appropriately,' said the official, speaking on condition of anonymity, without providing any additional details.
The attack on Crocus City Hall, about 20 km (12 miles) from the Kremlin, comes just two weeks after the US embassy in Russia warned that 'extremists' had imminent plans for an attack in Moscow. (Reuters)
US intelligence agencies gathered info about ISIS planning attack in Moscow earlier
According to a US official, the US intelligence agencies had gathered information in the past weeks that the IS branch was planning an attack in Moscow, which was shared with the Russian officials earlier this month.
However, the officials were not authorized to publicly discuss the information.
According to the Associated Press, on March 7, Russia’s top security agency said it thwarted an attack on a synagogue in Moscow by an Islamic State cell, killing several of its members in the Kaluga region near the Russian capital.
A few days earlier, Russian authorities said six alleged IS members were killed in a shootout in Ingushetia in Russia’s volatile Caucasus region. (AP)
PM Modi condemns 'heinous terrorist attack' in Moscow
Prime Minister Narendra Modi condemned the “heinous terrorist attack” and said that “India stands in solidarity with the government," hours after assailants burst into a concert hall in Moscow on Friday and sprayed the crowd with gunfire, killing over 60 people.
“We strongly condemn the heinous terrorist attack in Moscow. Our thoughts and prayers are with the families of the victims. India stands in solidarity with the government and the people of the Russian Federation in this hour of grief,” the Prime Minister wrote on X.
President Putin thanks doctors, wishes speedy recovery to those injured
President Putin, following the attack, thanked doctors, state media reported quoting a Russian government official.
“Putin wished all those injured in the emergency at Crocus City Hall to recover and conveyed his gratitude to the doctors, Golikova said,” state media TASS reported referring to Tatiana Golikova deputy prime minister for social policy, labor, health and pension provision.
ISIS claims responsibility for attack on Moscow concert hall
The Islamic State group claimed responsibility for the attack in a statement posted on affiliated channels on social media.
In a statement posted by Aamaq news agency, the Islamic State group said it attacked a large gathering of “Christians” in Krasnogorsk on Moscow’s outskirts, killing and wounding hundreds. It was not immediately possible to verify the authenticity of the claim.
Islamic State strike kills 60, world leaders condemn attack
Leaders from across the world, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi condemned the attack at a concert hall in Moscow that has so far left 60 people dead and over a 100 injured.
Several camouflage-clad gunmen had opened fire at the popular concert on the outskirts of Moscow, the death toll from which would make it the deadliest attack in the capital region in more than a decade.
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