Militants attacked a busy concert hall in Moscow on Friday night, killing at least 13 people and injuring dozens more, Russian media reported. The attack is expected to continue.
Videos circulating on social media showed men armed with machine guns firing at concertgoers at close range. The roof of Crocus Town Hall is on fire and many people are believed to still be inside.
Russian special forces, as well as ambulances and firefighters, were reportedly deployed to the scene. According to Russian authorities, dozens of people were evacuated through the roof.
“Unidentified gunmen opened fire at Krokus City Hall. A spokesman for the emergency agency said that evacuation efforts were currently underway, according to Russian state media TASS.
Russia’s Human Rights Commissioner Tatyana Moskalkova described the incident as a “terrorist attack.”
Russian news media paste Reports say the shooter remained at the scene and may have barricaded himself inside the building, preventing firefighters from reaching the fire.
“The exact number of gunmen remains unclear,” the outlet reported, noting that witnesses described “five bearded men with assault rifles.”
The video shows the gunman wearing a combat uniform and hat.
Helicopters were deployed to put out the fire, state media reported.
According to local media reports, the fire was caused by a gunman detonating explosives.
There was no immediate claim of responsibility for the attack. Local authorities said the search for the gunman was ongoing.
State Duma deputy Alexander Khinshtein reported that special forces and firefighters were working inside the building to evacuate people and search for the gunman.
Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin announced that all sporting and cultural events over the weekend have been cancelled.
Public places and events in St. Petersburg, Russia’s second-largest city, have also been closed.
The attack came days after the U.S. Embassy issued a warning to American citizens to avoid large gatherings in the Russian capital due to security threats.
National Security Council spokesman John Kirby expressed sympathy for the victims.
“The images are horrifying and difficult to watch and our thoughts are with the victims of this horrific shooting,” he said.
The White House said there was no indication that Ukraine was involved.
The attack occurred as crowds gathered to watch a Russian rock band perform at a venue with a capacity of more than 6,000 people.
This article is being updated
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