MOSCOW — In a shocking act of violence that has left Russia reeling, Islamic State militants stormed a popular concert venue in the Moscow region on Friday, unleashing a torrent of gunfire and explosions that killed over 60 people and injured nearly 150 others, according to Russian officials.
The attack, which has been claimed by the Islamic State, unfolded at the Crocus City Hall, where fans had gathered to see a performance by the Russian band Picnic. Witnesses described a scene of sheer terror as gunmen wearing combat gear burst into the venue and opened fire indiscriminately on the crowd.
“It was like something out of a nightmare,” said Andrei Kuznetsov, 28, who was in attendance at the concert. “One moment we were just enjoying the music, and the next, there were these men in military fatigues shooting everywhere. People were screaming and running for their lives.”
As concertgoers scrambled to escape the hail of bullets, the attackers tossed explosives into the venue, engulfing it in flames. Harrowing footage from the scene showed thick plumes of smoke billowing from the burning building as trapped victims desperately sought to flee.
“I saw people jumping from the windows to escape the fire,” said Oksana Petrova, 31, who witnessed the attack from outside the venue. “It was absolutely horrific.”
Russian authorities have launched a full-scale investigation into the attack, which they initially classified as a terrorist act before ISIS claimed responsibility through its affiliated social media channels. The U.S. has confirmed intelligence corroborating the group’s involvement, according to multiple reports.
The attack has sent shockwaves through Russia, which has been embroiled in a bitter conflict with Ukraine for over two years since Moscow’s invasion of its neighbor. While Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy swiftly denied any involvement, some Russian officials were quick to point the finger at Kyiv before ISIS claimed responsibility.
“If Moscow finds the perpetrators of the attack were connected with the ‘Kiev regime’ then all [Ukrainians] should be found and destroyed…including state officials,” former Russian President and current Deputy Chair of the Security Council Dmitry Medvedev wrote on Telegram, underscoring the potential for escalating tensions between the two countries.
The attack has also prompted a sweeping security crackdown across Russia, with authorities canceling all mass events and entertainment gatherings in the Moscow region and beyond. Restrictive measures have been implemented in several other regions, including Leningrad, Voronezh, and Vologda, as the nation grapples with the aftermath of the deadly assault.
For many in Russia, the attack has evoked painful memories of the country’s long-running battle against Islamic extremism, which has claimed countless lives over the years. The Islamic State, in particular, has carried out a string of high-profile attacks in Russia, including the bombing of a St. Petersburg metro station in 2017 that killed 16 people.
“This is a tragedy of immense proportions,” said Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin, reflecting the somber mood that has enveloped the capital in the wake of the attack. “Our thoughts and prayers are with the victims and their families during this incredibly difficult time.”
As the investigation into the attack continues, Russian President Vladimir Putin has instructed law enforcement and security services to take all necessary measures to track down those responsible and ensure the safety of the public.
However, for the families of those killed and injured in the concert hall massacre, no amount of justice will be able to undo the trauma they have endured.
“My daughter went to that concert with her friends, and now she’s gone,” said a grieving father, his voice trembling with emotion. “How can anyone justify such senseless violence? My heart is broken.”
In a city still reeling from the horror of the attack, those words echoed the collective anguish of a nation confronting the grim reality of an act of terror that has left an indelible mark on the Russian psyche.
