Russia says 40 dead, 145 injured in concert hall raid, Islamic State group claims responsibility

MOSCOW — Several assailants burst into a large concert hall in Moscow on Friday and sprayed the crowd with gunfire, killing at least 40 people, injuring more than 100 and setting fire to the venue in a brazen attack just days after President Vladimir Putin cemented his grip on power in a highly orchestrated electoral landslide.

The attack took place as crowds gathered for a performance by the famous Russian rock band Picnic. As Russia’s Federal Security Service reported 40 dead and over 100 injured, some Russian news reports suggested that more could have been trapped by the blaze that erupted after the assailants threw explosives. The Health Ministry released a list of 145 injured.

Repeated volleys of gunfire could be heard in videos posted by Russian media and on Telegram channels. One showed two men with rifles moving through the venue. Another showed a man inside the auditorium and saying the assailants had set it on fire, as gunshots rang out incessantly in the background. It was not clear why the group, which operates mainly in Syria and Iraq but also in Afghanistan and Africa, would stage an attack in Russia at this time. Over the years, the extremist group recruited fighters from the former Soviet Union who fought for the group in Syria and Iraq and claimed several attacks in Russia's volatile Caucasus and other regions in the past.

The Kremlin didn’t immediately blame anyone for the attack, but some Russian lawmakers were quick to accuse Ukraine of being behind it and called for ramping up strikes. Hours before the attack, the Russian military l aunched a sweeping barrage on Ukraine's power system, crippling the country's biggest hydroelectric plant and other energy facilities and leaving more than a million people without electricity.

John Kirby, spokesman for the White House National Security Council, said Friday that he couldn’t yet speak about all the details but that “the images are just horrible. And just hard to watch.”

Canada Latest News, Canada Headlines

Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.

Gunmen kill 40 in attack at concert near Moscow, Islamic State claims responsibilityAt least 40 people were killed and more than 100 injured when five gunmen dressed in camouflage opened fire with automatic weapons at people at a concert in the Crocus City Hall near Moscow.
Source: CTVNationalNews - 🏆 82. / 51 Read more »

Islamic State claims responsibility for concert hall attack near MoscowAt least 40 people were killed and more than 100 injured when five gunmen dressed in camouflage opened fire with automatic weapons at people at a concert in the Crocus City Hall near Moscow.
Source: CTVNews - 🏆 1. / 99 Read more »

Russia concert hall shooting: 40 dead; Islamic State claims responsibilitySeveral assailants burst into a large concert hall in Moscow on Friday and sprayed the crowd with gunfire, killing at least 40 people, injuring more than 100 and setting fire to the venue in a brazen attack just days after President Vladimir Putin cemented his grip on power in a highly orchestrated electoral landslide.
Source: CP24 - 🏆 30. / 67 Read more »

Russia says 40 killed and more than 100 wounded in attack on Moscow concert hallMOSCOW (AP) — Several assailants burst into a large concert hall in Moscow on Friday and sprayed the crowd with gunfire, killing at least 40 people, injuring more than 100 others and setting fire to the venue in a brazen attack just days after Presid
Source: BurnabyNOW_News - 🏆 14. / 77 Read more »

Russia says 40 killed and more than 100 wounded in attack on Moscow concert hallMOSCOW (AP) — Several gunmen burst into a large concert hall on the edge of Moscow on Friday and sprayed visitors with automatic gunfire, killing at least 40 and injuring 100 others in an attack that came just days after President Vladimir Putin ceme
Source: SooToday - 🏆 8. / 85 Read more »

Russia says 40 killed and more than 100 wounded in attack on Moscow concert hallMOSCOW (AP) — Several gunmen burst into a large concert hall on the edge of Moscow on Friday and sprayed visitors with automatic gunfire, killing at least 40 and injuring 100 others in an attack that came just days after President Vladimir Putin ceme
Source: PGCitizen - 🏆 65. / 51 Read more »