Content Warning: This story includes potentially disturbing video of a violent terrorist attack.
A group of heavily armed men wearing combat fatigues opened fire at a concert hall in Moscow late on Friday night, reportedly killing numerous people in Russia’s capital city.
The attack comes just a couple of weeks after the United States warned that terrorists had “imminent plans to target large gatherings in Moscow, to include concerts, and U.S. citizens should be advised to avoid large gatherings.”
Video posted online appeared to show at least three men entering Crocus City Hall, a music hall, opening fire with automatic weapons as concertgoers attempted to flee.
An explosion and fire were reported at the building, and video posted online showed the roof engulfed in flames.
A reporter with The New York Times said that “dozens” were “wounded and dead” from the attack.
An apparent terrorist attack at a club/shopping center in Moscow before a performance started. Dozens wounded and dead. There was also an explosion and the building is on fire.
Early videos show multiple men (3, per state media) in camo shooting rifles. pic.twitter.com/WCRmznrldq— Aric Toler (@AricToler) March 22, 2024
It looks like at least 4 gunmen were present at the shooting in Russia. Remember folks, only things like this happen in America… well, nothing like this has happened in the US, but that's besides the point. #itstheguns they say. pic.twitter.com/7nphqRzyZG
— Military Arms (@MAC_Arms) March 22, 2024
— FJ (@Natsecjeff) March 22, 2024
Hundreds if not Thousands of Russian Police Officers, Soldiers, Firefighters, and Paramedics have now arrived at the Crocus Concert Hall in the Capital of Moscow in Response to the Initial Terrorist Attack and the Massive Fire which appears to have resulted from the Attack. pic.twitter.com/KdY1xAEhMN
— OSINTdefender (@sentdefender) March 22, 2024
Dmitry Medvedev, Deputy Chair of the Security Council of the Russian Federation, said in a statement: “To the families of those killed in the terrorist attack – sincere condolences, sincere strength to all the loved ones of the victims.”
“Terrorists understand only retaliatory terror. No trials or investigations will help if force is not countered by force, and deaths by total executions of terrorists and repressions against their families,” he continued, according to a Google translation of his remarks, which were posted on Telegram.
“If it is established that these are terrorists of the Kyiv regime, it is impossible to deal with them and their ideological inspirers differently,” he concluded. “All of them must be found and mercilessly destroyed as terrorists, including officials of the state that committed such atrocity. Death for death.”
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