Masked gunmen blow up Moscow concert hall and kill dozens in major terror attack
Dozens are dead following heavy shooting and explosions at the concert hall in Moscow.
Dozens of people are dead after a group of masked gunmen stormed a concert hall in Moscow and set the building on fire.
At least 40 people are dead and over 100 people have been evacuated from the Crocus Music Hall in central Moscow after masked gunmen stormed the building and appeared to set it on fire with multiple explosive devices.
Video footage from the scene show the building engulfed in flames, and there are still people trapped on the roof.
Helicopters have been deployed to extinguish the flames and attempt to rescue those still trapped.
Extended rounds of gunfire could be heard on multiple videos posted by Russian media and Telegram channels.
One showed two men with rifles moving through the mall. Another one showed a man inside the auditorium, saying the assailants set it on fire, with incessant gunshots ringing out in the background.
Four of the gunment are believed to have escaped from the scene.
Andrei Vorobyov, the governor of the Moscow region, said he was heading to the area and set up a task force to deal with the damage.
It comes after the US embassy in Moscow warned citizens earlier this month to avoid large gatherings and concerts in particular aminst fears of potential ‘extremist attacks’.
More than 70 ambulance crews are currently on site to assist those wounded at the scene.
Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova has called on the international community to condemn the incident, calling it ‘a monstrous crime.’
White House National Security Advisor John Kirby responded by saying that he couldn’t yet speak about all the details but that ‘the images are just horrible. And just hard to watch.’
‘Our thoughts are going to be with the victims of this terrible, terrible shooting attack,” Kirby said. “There are some moms and dads and brothers and sisters and sons and daughters who haven’t gotten the news yet. This is going to be a tough day.’
The attack took place as crowds gathered for a concert of Picnic, a famed Russian rock band, at the hall that can accommodate over 6,000 people.
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