The terrorist assault at Moscow's Crocus City Hall has left more than 60 individuals dead, as per the statement from the Investigative Committee of Russia (ICR), as reported by various media outlets.
According to RT, the ICR stated on Saturday, “It has been initially confirmed that more than 60 people died as a result of the terrorist attack. Unfortunately, the number of victims may increase.”
Initially, reports indicated that at least 40 people were fatally shot, and over 100 were wounded when three to five unidentified gunmen, equipped with body armor and assault rifles, launched an indiscriminate attack in a Moscow mall on Friday. Additionally, they ignited a fire in a concert hall within the mall.
The toll from the tragic incident at Krokus City Mall was assessed preliminarily by the Federal Security Service (FSB).
The attack occurred around 8 p.m. (local time) during a concert by the renowned rock band Piknik, causing pandemonium, according to RT. The perpetrators targeted fleeing concert attendees, with disturbing videos showing bodies scattered across the scene. Reports suggested they also used hand grenades and incendiary devices to set the building ablaze.
Given the scale of the assault and the ensuing massive fire, which reportedly led to the collapse of the building's roof, authorities anticipate the casualty count to rise, local media reported.
A substantial emergency response was initiated, with numerous ambulances and heavily armed police special operation units dispatched to the scene. A helicopter was also deployed to assist in extinguishing the inferno.
As of the latest updates, the attackers, who exhibited no intention of taking hostages or issuing demands but instead resorted to indiscriminate shooting, have barricaded themselves inside the burning structure.
Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova remarked, “The Russian Foreign Ministry is receiving phone calls with condolences from ordinary citizens from all around the globe following the horrible tragedy at the Krokus City Hall venue in Moscow. They are expressing the strongest condemnation of this bloody terrorist attack, transpiring right before the eyes of the entire world.”
She added, "As the Russian authorities have already stated, all efforts at the current moment are devoted to saving the people (at the site)."
"The international community is obliged to condemn this horrendous crime!" Zakharova emphasized.
The United States denounced the attack, labeling it a "terrible incident."
National Security Council spokesman John Kirby conveyed to reporters, “The images are just horrible and just hard to watch.”
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