Crocus City Hall attack

22 March 2024 terrorist attack in Russia

On 22 March 2024, at around 20:00 MSK (UTC+3), a coordinated Islamist terrorist attack against civilians occurred at the Crocus City Hall. It is a music venue in Krasnogorsk, a city on the western edge of Moscow in Russia. Several gunmen carried out a mass shooting on the people there. They also used incendiary devices to set the venue on fire.[9] The attack killed at least 145 people.[10] More than 500 people were injured. It is the deadliest terrorist attack in Russia since the Beslan school siege in 2004.[11][12]

Crocus City Hall attack
Part of Islamic terrorism and terrorism in Russia
Crocus City Hall auditorium, March 25 after the terrorist attack
Map
Map
LocationCrocus City Hall, Krasnogorsk, Moscow Oblast, Russia
Coordinates55°49′33″N 37°23′25″E / 55.82583°N 37.39028°E / 55.82583; 37.39028
Date22 March 2024; 8 months ago (2024-03-22)
20:00 MSK (UTC+3)
Attack type
Deaths145[a][2][3]
Injured
551[3][4]
PerpetratorsIslamic State – Khorasan Province (claimed responsiblity)[5][6]
No. of participants
4[7][8]
MotiveUnknown

Russia's Foreign Ministry called the massacre a terrorist attack.[13] In a statement on the Telegram channel of Amaq News Agency shortly after the attack, the Islamic State – Khorasan Province (IS-KP or ISIS-K), a branch the Islamic State, claimed responsibility.[14][5][15] The branch that claimed responsibility is based in Afghanistan. Russian state media and officials, including President Vladimir Putin, have said that Ukraine was involved in the attack, without providing any evidence. Ukraine has denied any involvement.[16]

Attack

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The venue building on fire on 22 March
 
Moscow firefighters near the fire site

On 22 March 2024, the Russian band Piknik was scheduled to play a sold-out show at Crocus City Hall.[17][18] At around 20:00 MSK (UTC+3),[19] before the band began their performance, masked gunmen in combat fatigues opened fire on the crowd using assault rifles.[20][21] At the time of the attack, children and teenagers were also in the building for a ballroom dancing competition.[22] The venue's security guards were unarmed, and some of them were believed to be among those killed in the attack.[23]

One witness described the attackers as bearded men.[24] Amateur video footage taken at the event showed masked gunmen shooting indiscriminately in the entrance hall and auditorium.[25] Other footage posted to Telegram showed men in military fatigues and baseball caps firing into crowds of screaming people.[26] The assailants were also reported to have used incendiary devices. One eyewitness claimed the assailants used petrol bombs to start a fire in the auditorium.[22] Amateur video footage posted to social media sites showed huge fires and plumes of smoke coming from the building from the fires set by the assailants.[26]

At 21:32, an explosion was reported, and part of the roof collapsed at around 22:00.[27] [better source needed] Moscow governor Andrey Vorobyov claimed the roof over the hall collapsed.[28] Some early reports indicated that the gunmen barricaded themselves within the building.[29]

Specialized police units from the Special Rapid Response Unit (SOBR) and Special Purposes Mobile Unit (OMON) were sent to the scene.[30] They arrived over 1 hour after the shootings started, according to Nexta.[31] Vorobyov went to the scene to set up a task force to handle the situation.[26] The National Guard of Russia was also dispatched to search for the assailants,[25] with a picture posted of the suspected assailants fleeing in a white Renault car.[32]

 
Emergency services responding to the attack

Medical helicopters were used to evacuate survivors.[33] 70 ambulance crews had been dispatched.[24] An unknown number of people fled to the parking area from the stage, while others fled to the roof.[34] Authorities evacuated approximately 100 people hiding in the basement.[13] Firefighters prevented the fire from spreading.[35] Three helicopters were deployed to dump water on the burning rooftop.[36]

By 07:00 on 23 March, Vorobyov reported the fire had been contained and mostly extinguished.[37] The roof over the hall collapsed.[38] Video released by Moscow's state governor the next day showed extensive damage to the building with the roof and upper rows of the concert hall completely collapsed.[39]

Casualties

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At least 137 people were killed.[10] More than 145 people were injured, 107 people were sent to a hospital.[40] At least 60 people are in critical condition.[21][41] Aside from gunshot wounds, some of the deaths were caused by smoke inhalation.[42] According to the Russian Minister of Health, Mikhail Murashko, five children were injured in the attack.[41]

The members of Picnic later posted on Instagram that they and their management were "alive and safe,"[43] with TASS later reporting that they had been evacuated.[44]

References

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  1. "Спецслужбы США знали, что террористы планируют напасть именно на "Крокус", и сказали об этом ФСБ еще 6 марта" (in Russian). iStories. 3 April 2024. Archived from the original on 3 April 2024. Retrieved 3 April 2024.
  2. Rosenberg, Steve (8 April 2024). "Why is Russia trying to frame Ukraine for concert massacre?". BBC. Archived from the original on 10 April 2024. Retrieved 10 April 2024.
  3. 3.0 3.1 "Death toll from concert hall attack in Russia's Moscow region rises to 144". Anadolu Agency. 29 March 2024. Archived from the original on 30 March 2024. Retrieved 29 March 2024.
  4. "Number of those injured in Moscow terrorist attack revised upward to 551". Tass Russian News Agency. 30 March 2024. Archived from the original on 31 March 2024. Retrieved 30 March 2024.
  5. 5.0 5.1 Schmitt, Eric (22 March 2024). "What We Know About ISIS-K, the Group That Claimed Responsibility for the Moscow Attack". The New York Times. Archived from the original on 23 March 2024. Retrieved 23 March 2024.
  6. Barnes, Julian E.; Schmitt, Eric (22 March 2024). "U.S. Says ISIS Was Responsible for Deadly Moscow Concert Hall Attack". The New York Times. Archived from the original on 22 March 2024. Retrieved 22 March 2024.
  7. "Директор ФСБ доложил Президенту о задержании террористов, участвовавших в атаке на «Крокус Сити Холл»". kremlin.ru (in Russian). 2024-03-23. Archived from the original on 23 March 2024. Retrieved 2024-03-23.
  8. "Moscow attack: Gunmen kill dozens at Crocus City Hall in Moscow". BBC. 23 March 2024. Archived from the original on 22 March 2024. Retrieved 23 March 2024.
  9. "Islamic State group claims responsibility for Moscow attack in a statement posted on social media". ABC News. 22 March 2024. Archived from the original on 22 March 2024. Retrieved 22 March 2024.
  10. 10.0 10.1 Cite error: The named reference :7 was used but no text was provided for refs named (see the help page).
  11. Singh, Maanvi (22 March 2024). "145 people injured in attack, says Moscow health ministry". the Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Archived from the original on 23 March 2024. Retrieved 22 March 2024.
  12. Bennetts, Marc (22 March 2024). "Moscow terror attack: 62 people killed and concert hall on fire". The Times. ISSN 0140-0460. Archived from the original on 23 March 2024. Retrieved 22 March 2024.
  13. 13.0 13.1 Kirby, Paul; Rhoden-Paul, Andre (22 March 2024). "Full statement from Russia's security service". BBC News. Archived from the original on 23 March 2024. Retrieved 22 March 2024.
  14. Knight, Mariya; Chernova, Anna; Tarasova, Darya (22 March 2024). "ISIS claims responsibility for attack in busy Moscow-area concert venue that left at least 40 dead". CNN. Archived from the original on 22 March 2024. Retrieved 22 March 2024.
  15. "Islamic State group claims responsibility for Moscow attack in a statement posted on social media". ABC News. Archived from the original on 22 March 2024. Retrieved 22 March 2024.
  16. Belam, Martin (2024-03-23). "Moscow concert hall attack: Putin tells Russians Ukraine linked to attack which killed 115, claims denied by Kyiv officials – live updates". the Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Archived from the original on 23 March 2024. Retrieved 2024-03-23.
  17. Hopkins, Valerie; Toler, Aric (22 March 2024). "Gunmen Open Fire at Arena Outside Moscow, Russian News Agencies Report". The New York Times. Archived from the original on 23 March 2024. Retrieved 22 March 2024.
  18. Wertheimer, Tiffany (22 March 2024). "Russian rock band was due to perform at concert hall". BBC News. Archived from the original on 22 March 2024. Retrieved 22 March 2024.
  19. Abbruzzese, Jason (22 March 2024). "Russian journalist says they were inside concert venue when gunmen entered". NBC News. Archived from the original on 22 March 2024. Retrieved 22 March 2024.
  20. "At least 60 dead in Moscow concert hall attack as ISIS claims responsibility". Canadian Broadcasting Company. The Associated Press. 22 March 2024. Archived from the original on 22 March 2024. Retrieved 23 March 2024.
  21. 21.0 21.1 Faulconbridge, Guy (22 March 2024). "Gunmen kill at least 40 in attack at concert hall near Moscow, state news agency says". Reuters. Retrieved 22 March 2024.
  22. 22.0 22.1 "Witnesses recount 'terrorists shooting people'". BBC News. 22 March 2024. Archived from the original on 23 March 2024. Retrieved 23 March 2024.
  23. "Russian authorities say at least 60 killed in Moscow concert hall attack". Al Jazeera. 22 March 2024. Archived from the original on 23 March 2024. Retrieved 23 March 2024.
  24. 24.0 24.1 Roth, Andrew (22 March 2024). "At least 40 killed and more than 140 wounded in Moscow concert hall attack". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Archived from the original on 22 March 2024. Retrieved 22 March 2024.
  25. 25.0 25.1 "What's the latest?". BBC News. 22 March 2024. Archived from the original on 23 March 2024. Retrieved 23 March 2024.
  26. 26.0 26.1 26.2 "Kremlin says 40 killed and more than 100 wounded in attack on Moscow concert hall". AP News. 22 March 2024. Archived from the original on 22 March 2024. Retrieved 22 March 2024.
  27. Keenan, Claire; Singh, Maanvi; Chao-Fong, Léonie; Yang, Maya (23 March 2024). "Roof of concert hall where shooting took place is collapsing". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 22 March 2024. Retrieved 23 March 2024.
  28. "Putin wishes 'speedy recovery' to victims of Moscow shooting – as it happened". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 22 March 2024. Retrieved 23 March 2024.
  29. Ebel, Francesca; Ilyushina, Mary (23 March 2024). "At least 60 dead after explosion, gunfire hit popular Moscow concert venue". Washington Post. Archived from the original on 22 March 2024. Retrieved 23 March 2024.
  30. "Islamic State group claims responsibility for gun attack at Moscow concert that kills at least 40". The Straits Times. SPH Media. 23 March 2024. Archived from the original on 23 March 2024. Retrieved 23 March 2024.
  31. "Telegram". Nexta. Archived from the original on 23 March 2024. Retrieved 23 March 2024.
  32. Rosenberg, Steve (23 March 2024). "As search for attackers continues, big questions about security". BBC News. Archived from the original on 23 March 2024. Retrieved 23 March 2024.
  33. "Ambulance helicopters evacuate several survivors of Crocus City Hall shootout". TASS. Archived from the original on 22 March 2024. Retrieved 22 March 2024.
  34. Kirby, Paul; Rhoden-Paul, Andre (22 March 2024). "Moscow attack: Gunmen kill dozens at Crocus City Hall in Moscow". BBC News. Archived from the original on 22 March 2024. Retrieved 23 March 2024.
  35. "Fire not spreading, Russian media says". BBC News. Archived from the original on 23 March 2024. Retrieved 22 March 2024.
  36. "Islamic State group claims responsibility for deadly Moscow concert hall attack". France 24. 22 March 2024. Archived from the original on 22 March 2024. Retrieved 22 March 2024.
  37. "At least 60 killed in Moscow concert hall attack, Russia says". BBC. 23 March 2024. Archived from the original on 22 March 2024. Retrieved 23 March 2024.
  38. "Putin wishes 'speedy recovery' to victims of Moscow shooting – as it happened". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 22 March 2024. Retrieved 23 March 2024.
  39. "Video shows fire damage in Moscow's Crocus concert hall". Archived from the original on 23 March 2024. Retrieved 2024-03-23.
  40. Varshalomidze, Tamila (23 March 2024). "Three children among 107 hospitalised victims of Moscow attack: Official". Al Jazeera. Al Jazeera Media Network. Archived from the original on 23 March 2024. Retrieved 23 March 2024.
  41. 41.0 41.1 Baker, Graeme (ed.). "More details revealed on victims". BBC News. Archived from the original on 23 March 2024. Retrieved 23 March 2024.
  42. "Death toll in Crocus City Hall attack rises to 143". The Guardian. 23 March 2024. Archived from the original on 23 March 2024. Retrieved 23 March 2024.
  43. "Picnic musicians and management 'alive and safe'". BBC News. 22 March 2024. Archived from the original on 23 March 2024. Retrieved 23 March 2024.
  44. "Moscow concert hall attack: what we know so far". France 24. 23 March 2024. Archived from the original on 23 March 2024. Retrieved 23 March 2024.

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