Witnesses describe loud explosions

More than 60 people were killed in a terrorist attack on the evening of March 22 at the Crocus City Hall concert venue in the city of Krasnogorsk, Moscow region, a source in Russia's Investigative Committee told state news agency TASS.

“Preliminary determinations indicate that the terrorist attack has left more than 60 people dead. Unfortunately, the death toll could rise,” the source said.

Investigators, criminologists and experts of the Russian Investigative Committee, along with operational units of the Interior Ministry and the Federal Security Service of Russia, are continuing investigative activities at the scene, the source added.

At first, the guests who were on their way to Crocus City Hall and were still far from the entrance mistook the gunshots for the noise caused by installation work there, one of the witnesses told TASS.

“At first we heard the typical loud bangs, but we could not believe that they were gunshots. We thought that something was falling, because the exhibits were being dismantled and it seemed that someone was dropping something big. Then it became clear that there were gunshots,” witness Mikhail Semyonov told TASS.

One witness said he was about to take his seat when he heard “a lot of machine gun fire” and “a lot of screaming”. “I immediately realised it was automatic gunfire and understood that it could be the worst: a terrorist attack,” the man, named only as Alexei, told AFP.

Another spectator described scenes of panic as terrified people tried to escape. “A stampede started. Everyone was running for the escalators,” he told Reuters. “Everyone was screaming and running.”

Gunmen stormed Crocus City Hall (left) and the fire is seen from outside (right). Photo: Sky News

Unidentified gunmen armed with assault rifles opened fire. An explosion rocked the building, causing a fire. In addition to the death toll, authorities said at least 145 people were injured and rushed to hospitals. A search operation is underway at the scene.

In his first comments on the shooting, Russian President Vladimir Putin wished all those injured in the terrorist attack a speedy recovery.

Moscow Mayor Sergey Sobyanin, calling the attack a “huge tragedy”, said local authorities had cancelled all cultural, sporting and other mass events in the capital for the next two days, and several other Russian regions had followed suit.

The state news agency RIA quoted a spokesman for the Russian Investigative Committee as saying on March 23 that it was too early to say anything about the attackers' whereabouts.

At least three emergency helicopters were dispatched to extinguish a fire that broke out in Crocus City, Moscow region, following a terrorist attack on the evening of March 22, 2024. Photo: TASS

An Afghan branch of the Islamic State (IS) terrorist group, known as ISIS-K, claimed responsibility for the Moscow attack. In a post on Telegram, the group said its fighters had escaped afterward. A US official said Washington had intelligence confirming the IS claim.

Photos showed Crocus engulfed in flames while videos emerged showing at least four gunmen opening fire with automatic weapons as panicked Russians fled for safety.

Children were among the victims of the attack, which also appears to have been set off by the attackers, according to media reports. At least two explosions occurred at the concert hall on the evening of March 22, news agencies reported.

At least three emergency helicopters were deployed to extinguish the fire. Local media reported that part of the roof of the Crocus City shopping mall had collapsed.

By late evening, Russian authorities had launched a massive manhunt for the gunmen involved in the attack, warning residents in Moscow and its suburbs to be on the lookout for signs of the attackers. The Russian government did not immediately identify any suspects .

Minh Duc (According to TASS, The Guardian)

Source: https://www.nguoiduatin.vn/vu-tan-cong-khung-bo-o-moscow-nhan-chung-ke-ve-nhung-tieng-no-lon-a655456.html