Russia, Ukraine trade blames as gun attack in Moscow leaves 40 dead, over 100 wounded

Gunmen unleashed a horrifying assault on a rock concert in a suburb of Moscow on Friday, leaving a trail of devastation as they opened fire, ignited a deadly inferno, and triggered pandemonium among concert-goers. The brazen attack claimed the lives of at least 40 people, with over 100 others wounded, as authorities grappled to contain the chaos and apprehend the perpetrators.

According to accounts from witnesses and officials, the assailants, clad in camouflage attire, stormed into the Crocus City concert hall in Krasnogorsk, a suburb north of the Russian capital. In a scene of sheer terror, they indiscriminately fired upon the crowd and reportedly hurled a grenade or incendiary device, engulfing the venue in flames.

Initial reports from the FSB security service, as relayed by Interfax news agency and other Russian media outlets, confirmed the grim toll of the attack. "According to preliminary information, 40 people were killed and more than 100 were injured as a result of a terrorist attack in the Crocus City Hall," stated the FSB.

President Vladimir Putin, briefed on the unfolding tragedy, received continuous updates on the situation, revealed his spokesman Dmitry Peskov. As Moscow grappled with the aftermath of the assault, the city's mayor, Sergei Sobyanin, declared it a "terrible tragedy" and promptly canceled all public events for the weekend.

Eyewitnesses recounted scenes of horror and heroism as concert-goers scrambled for safety amidst the onslaught. Images circulated on Telegram news channels depicted billowing smoke and flames engulfing the concert hall, while others captured individuals seeking refuge behind seats or making desperate bids to escape.

The assailants, described as between two and five individuals armed with automatic weapons, reportedly targeted security personnel at the entrance before turning their weapons on the audience. "People who were in the hall were led on the ground to protect themselves from the shooting for 15 or 20 minutes," detailed a journalist from RIA Novosti.

Amidst the chaos, about 100 people managed to escape through the theatre's basement, while others sought refuge on the roof, according to the emergency services ministry. However, a significant portion of the complex succumbed to the flames, as reported by TASS news agency.

Condemnation of the attack reverberated internationally, with Russia's foreign ministry labeling it a "bloody terrorist attack" and urging the global community to denounce the heinous act. Meanwhile, the United States, while expressing solidarity with the victims, underscored that there was no immediate evidence linking the assault to the conflict in Ukraine.

In a chilling warning, former Russian president Dmitry Medvedev vowed swift and merciless retribution if Ukrainian officials were found to be involved, declaring on Telegram, "they must be found and ruthlessly destroyed as terrorists."

On the Ukrainian side, the main intelligence directorate of the Ukrainian defense ministry has pointed fingers at Russian secret services, alleging their complicity in orchestrating the deadly assault on a concert hall near Moscow. Accusing the Russian special services of executing a premeditated and deliberate act of provocation on the orders of President Vladimir Putin, the Ukrainian intelligence service asserted on Telegram that the attack aimed to "further escalate and expand the war" with Ukraine

As security forces mobilized around the theatre and nearby areas, Orthodox church leader Patriarch Kirill offered prayers for the souls of the deceased.

Source: AFP