Gunmen Open Fire at Rock Concert Venue
On a fateful Friday evening in Moscow, chaos erupted as gunmen stormed into Crocus City Hall, the venue for a rock concert by the band Picnic. The attackers unleashed a barrage of gunfire in the building’s foyer before setting it ablaze with flammable liquid. The assault, which lasted about 20 minutes, left at least 137 people dead and more than 60 critically wounded.
ISIS Claims Responsibility
The Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) claimed responsibility for the heinous attack, attributing it to their Russia branch. U.S. intelligence corroborated ISIS’s involvement in the assault. Russian authorities swiftly arrested 11 suspects, with four directly linked to the atrocity facing terrorism charges in court.
U.S. Warned of Potential Attack in Moscow
The tragic incident occurred despite U.S. warnings of a possible terrorist attack targeting large gatherings in Moscow. The U.S. Embassy had cautioned Americans to avoid public events in the capital. Despite Russian President Vladimir Putin dismissing these warnings as “blackmail,” the U.S. reiterated that ISIS was solely responsible, refuting any claims of Ukrainian involvement.
This brazen attack deviated from typical ISIS operations, with the perpetrators fleeing the scene. As investigations continue, the world mourns the lives lost in this senseless act of violence.