60 dead, over 100 injured in mass shooting near Moscow — updated
Several unknown gunmen have opened fire on a
crowd of civilians at the Crocus City Hall concert venue in Krasnogorsk, just
outside of Moscow,
killing at least 40 people on the spot, Russian media reported on March 22.
Russian Telegram channel Shot, citing sources, initially reported that 40 people were killed and over 100 were injured in the shooting.
According to state news agency TASS, Russia's FSB subsequently confirmed that the casualty figures include 60 dead and at least 100 injured.
Independent Russian outlet iStories later reported that Russian security officials have rejected the notion that Ukraine was behind the terror attack, citing sources in the emergency taskforce that was charged with investigating the shooting in Crocus City Hall.
Several videos show a haze of smoke rising in the concert hall with gunfire heard in the background, resembling bursts from an automatic weapon.
"They're shooting with a machine gun, firing into the crowd," one eyewitness said.
According to witnesses, a man began firing an automatic weapon after a loud explosion was heard. This occurred just as the concert of Russian band Piknik was about to begin at Crocus City Hall.
Footage filmed by eyewitnesses on their phones shows several bodies on the floor at the venue.
The United States has no information to suggest that Ukraine could be behind the terror attack in Krasnogorsk.
"There is no indication at this time that Ukraine, or Ukrainians, were involved in the shooting," White House National Security spokesman John Kirby said a press briefing.
Ukrainian presidential adviser Mykhailo Podolyak said that Kyiv is no way connected to the Crocus City Hall mass shooting.
“Let’s be clear: Ukraine has absolutely no connection to these events,” Podolyak said in a Telegram post.
“We’re fighting a major, full-scale war with Russia’s regular army, with Russia as a state. Everything will be decided on the battlefield.”
CNN later reported that ISIS has claimed responsibility for the terror attack, citing a statement published by ISIS-affiliated news agency Amaq.
On March 8, the U.S. Embassy warned its citizens in Russia about the threat of a terrorist attack in Moscow.
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