Moscow concert hall on fire after bandits shoot into crowd; Russia calls on the international community to condemn this “monstrous crime”.
Russian media report that several armed men attacked a meeting place using explosives which started a fire. Moscow cancels mass gatherings and increases security at airports and train stations.
According to Russian state media, a shooting followed by an explosion was reported Friday evening at Moscow’s Crocus City Hall, one of Russia’s largest shopping and entertainment complexes. The Russian Foreign Ministry called the shooting and explosion a “terrorist attack.”
Most of the building is on fire and the roof has partially collapsed, Russian news agency Interfax reported.
More than 70 ambulances were sent to the scene of the attack, the governor of the Moscow region said.
Several armed men burst into the concert hall and opened fire with automatic weapons, state media RIA Novosti reported.
The attackers then threw a grenade or incendiary bomb, starting a fire in the room, according to Russian state media.
No official report of the dead and injured has been communicated.
In Podolsk, near Moscow, public events were canceled due to the incident at Crocus Town Hall, the district head said. The Moscow mayor also canceled all “sporting, cultural and other mass events” in Moscow for the weekend.
The White House is aware of the incident in Moscow but has limited information at this time, according to National Security Council spokesman John Kirby.
