At least 60 dead in Moscow concert hall attack as ISIS claims responsibility
CBC
The latest:
At least 60 people were killed and more than 140 others were wounded in an attack that began at a Moscow-area concert hall Friday night, according to Russia's top security agency, the Federal Security Service. Russian government officials say children are among the dead and wounded.
Russian media outlets reported that between two to five assailants dressed in combat fatigues burst into the Crocus City Hall in Krasnogorsk, a suburb on the western edge of the city, firing automatic weapons at the crowds and setting off explosives, causing a massive blaze.
ISIS, also known as Islamic State, issued a claim of responsibility hours later on its Telegram channel.
Flames leapt into the sky, and plumes of black smoke rose above the venue as hundreds of blue lights from emergency vehicles flashed in the night, pictures and video showed.
Russian state-owned news agency RIA reported earlier that the roof of the venue was collapsing. Russian media also reported a second blast at the venue.
Helicopters sought to douse flames that engulfed the large building and evacuated around 100 people.
Shortly before 11 p.m. local time, Russia's Interfax news agency reported firefighting crews had contained the fire, which had grown to approximately 12,900 square metres.
The attack took place as crowds gathered for a concert by Picnic, a famed Russian rock band, at the hall, which can accommodate over 6,000 people.
Crocus City Hall is a part of a larger complex that also includes a shopping mall, convention centre and other facilities.
Verified video shows people taking their seats in the hall, then rushing for the exits as repeated gunfire echoed above screams.
Other video shows men shooting at groups of people. Some victims lay motionless in pools of blood.
Some video showed up to four attackers, armed with assault rifles and wearing caps, who were shooting screaming people at point-blank range.
Another one showed a man inside the auditorium, saying the assailants set it on fire, with incessant gunshots ringing out in the background.
