Over 60 people were killed and 145 others were injured as a group of armed men, wearing combat fatigues, opened fire at a concert hall near Moscow on Friday night, BBC and Reuters reported, citing Russia's FSB Federal Security Service.
According to Russian news reports, the terrorists threw explosives, triggering a massive fire at the Crocus City Hall, located on the western edge of Moscow. Videos on social media showed huge plumes of black smoke rising over the building, Reuters reported.
The Islamic State terror group claimed responsibility for the attack, the group's Telegram channel said, according to Reuters.
The attack, which is being probed by authorities as an act of terrorism, is the deadliest assault in Russia in recent years, news agency The Associated Press reported.
Several terrorists barged into the concert hall and opened fire at visitors and started a massive fire. According to Russian media, the hall's roof was collapsing.
The attack took place as a huge crowd gathered for a concert by Picnic, a famed Russian rock band, in the hall that can accommodate over 6,000 people, The Associated Press reported.
Special forces arrived at the building to begin an operation to eliminate the terrorists, who were believed to have barricaded themselves inside the building, Russian media reported.
Extended rounds of gunfire could be heard in multiple videos on Russian social media channels. One video showed two men with guns moving through the concert hall. Another one showed a man inside the auditorium, saying the terrorists set it on fire and gunshots being heard in the background.
According to Russian media, 70 ambulances were rushed to the spot and riot police units were at the scene as people were being evacuated.
Andrei Vorobyov, the governor of the Moscow region, said he was rushing to the spot and a task force would be set up to probe the attack, The Associated Press reported.
In Ukraine, which was invaded by Russia in February 2022, presidential advisor Mykhailo Podolyak denied Kyiv's involvement in the attack.
US REACTS TO MOSCOW ATTACK
Notably, the US embassy in Russia had warned of a terrorist attack earlier this month. It had warned that "extremists" planned to target large gatherings in Moscow, including at concerts. The advisory also urged US citizens to avoid large gatherings over the next 48 hours.
