Russian officials say dozens killed in Moscow concert hall attack

Russian authorities said security was tightened at Moscow’s airports and railway stations, while the Moscow mayor cancelled all mass gatherings scheduled for the weekend.

Russian officials say an attack at a concert hall on the outskirts of Moscow on Friday has left dozens dead and many more injured.

U.S. officials say they are monitoring the situation, which also resulted in a large fire at the building in the Russian capital. Global Affairs Canada says it is looking into the reports.

White House National Security Advisor John Kirby said that he couldn’t yet speak about all the details but that “the images are just horrible. And just hard to watch.”

“Our thoughts are going to be with the victims of this terrible, terrible shooting attack,” Kirby said. “There are some moms and dads and brothers and sisters and sons and daughters who haven’t gotten the news yet. This is going to be a tough day.”

Russia’s top domestic security agency, the Federal Security Service, said at least 40 people have been killed and 100 others injured.

There were no immediate claims of responsibility for the reported raid, in what would be the worst terror attack in Russia in two decades that came as the fighting in Ukraine dragged into a third year. Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin described the attack as a “huge tragedy.”

The reported attack took place as crowds gathered for a concert of Picnic, a famed Russian rock band, at the hall that can accommodate over 6,000 people. Russian news reports said that visitors were being evacuated, but some said that an unspecified number of people could have been trapped by the blaze.

The prosecutor’s office said several men in combat fatigues entered the concert hall and fired at visitors.