MOSCOW. Gunmen carried out an attack on concertgoers near Moscow, resulting in the deaths of at least 40 people and leaving 145 wounded. The assailants, dressed in camouflage attire, unleashed a hail of gunfire using automatic weapons, creating chaos and horror in what is considered one of Russia’s deadliest attacks in decades.
The Islamic State, notorious for its past control over territories in Iraq and Syria, claimed responsibility for the assault through its Amaq agency on Telegram. The attack occurred just as the Soviet-era rock group “Picnic” was set to perform to a full house at the Crocus City Hall, a 6,200-seat theater in a Moscow suburb.
Eyewitnesses recounted scenes of panic and mayhem as concert attendees fled for safety amidst the sound of gunfire. Russia’s Federal Security Service (FSB) confirmed the death toll and implemented heightened security measures in response to the tragedy.
This incident marks one of the most devastating attacks on Russian soil since the 2004 Beslan school siege, where Islamist militants held over 1,000 hostages, including hundreds of children.
The concert venue, engulfed in flames, became a scene of horror as emergency services rushed to the scene. Helicopters battled to extinguish the blaze and rescue survivors from the collapsing building.
Islamic State claimed that its fighters conducted the attack on the outskirts of Moscow, causing extensive damage before withdrawing to safety. Russian President Vladimir Putin, who has been actively involved in the Syrian civil war, supporting President Bashar al-Assad against opposition forces and the Islamic State, was briefed on the situation and issued directives in response.
The global community condemned the attack, with expressions of shock and solidarity pouring in from the United States, European nations, Arab powers, and former Soviet republics. The incident also prompted heightened security measures across Russia, including the cancellation of large-scale public events.
Gary P Hernal started college at UP Diliman and received his BA in Economics from San Sebastian College, Manila, and Masters in Information Systems Management from Keller Graduate School of Management of DeVry University in Oak Brook, IL. He has 25 years of copy editing and management experience at Thomson West, a subsidiary of Thomson Reuters.
