What we know about the attack at a concert in Moscow

A devastating attack occurred at a concert hall in Moscow’s suburbs on Friday evening, resulting in at least 115 deaths. The assault, which was reported by Russian media around 20:15 in Moscow (17:15 GMT), was carried out by several armed individuals at the Crocus City Hall, a concert venue located in Krasnogorsk, on the northwestern exit of the Russian capital. The culprits reportedly used “automatic weapons” and set the building on fire using an “inflammable liquid,” according to the Investigation Committee on Saturday.

Rescue services, quoted by the Interfax agency, mentioned that the attackers “opened fire on the security agents at the entrance of the concert hall,” before they “started shooting at the audience.” According to a reporter from the Ria Novosti public press agency, men in camouflage broke into the main floor of the concert hall before opening fire and launching “a grenade or an incendiary bomb, which sparked a fire.” The individuals present in the room had to lie on the floor for 15 to 20 minutes to avoid getting shot, after which they began to crawl out.

A correspondent from AFP, who arrived at the scene a few hours post the attack, saw black smoke and flames coming out from the roof of the concert hall, which can accommodate up to 6,000 people. As reported by the media, a portion of the roof had collapsed. The fire was later brought under control. The Russian Investigation Committee announced on Saturday morning that the death toll had risen to 115 and that search operations were still ongoing in the debris. As per the Emergency Situations Ministry, about a hundred people remained hospitalized on Saturday.

The terrorist attack was claimed by the Islamic State militant group (IS) in a statement released on Friday evening. The group asserted that its commando had later “returned to its base safely”. The Kremlin announced the arrest of 11 individuals on Saturday, including the “four” attackers, while an investigation for “terrorist act” was opened. The individuals were taken into custody in the Briansk region, bordering Ukraine and Belarus, the Investigation Committee clarified. According to Russian media and Deputy Alexander Khinstein, some of the suspects originate from Tajikistan.

The Russian Security Service (FSB) suggested that the suspects had “contacts” in Ukraine and planned to flee there. Ukraine and a pro-Ukraine fighters’ group, who have recently spearheaded armed border incursions into Russian territory, denied any involvement in the attack. Ukrainian military intelligence has blamed the Kremlin and its special services for orchestrating the attack to accuse Ukraine and to justify an “escalation” of the war. Former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev has affirmed that Moscow would kill the Ukrainian leaders if their involvement in the attack was confirmed.