40 Russians killed in Moscow terrorist attack; Iran condemns

Iran has condemned a terrorist attack at a concert hall in a Moscow suburb that has left dozens of Russians dead and injured.

At least 40 people were killed and more than 100 injured in the attack on Friday, Russia’s Federal Security Service (FSB) said.

“According to preliminary information, 40 people were killed and more than 100 were injured as a result of a terrorist attack in the Crocus City Hall,” the Interfax news agency reported, citing the FSB.

“Fire and rescue units are operating… Their main efforts are aimed at search and rescue. Firefighters evacuated about 100 people from the basement of the building. Work is underway to rescue others from the roof using lifts,” the Ministry of Emergency Situations said.

Gunmen opened fire at the rock concert on Friday before a major fire spread through the theatre, Russian authorities and news agencies said. 

Several fire brigades and aircraft were deployed to put out the blaze on Friday night.

The attackers reportedly set the building on fire. Witnesses also said they heard explosions inside the popular shopping center and music venue in Krasnogorsk, just northwest of the Russian capital. 

According to regional emergency services, around 100 people have been evacuated from the underground floor.

Attackers dressed in camouflaged outfits entered the building, opened fire, and threw a grenade or incendiary bomb, according to a journalist for the RIA Novosti news agency who was at the scene.

In a statement issued following the terrorist attack, Iran’s government condemned the incident. 

“We strongly condemn the bloody and brutal terrorist attack on a commercial center in Moscow, which resulted in the death and injury of a large number of Russian citizens,” Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Nasser Kan’ani said.  

The Foreign Ministry spokesman expressed condolences to the government and people of Russia, especially the families of the victims.

Kan’ani said that the Islamic Republic of Iran is standing with Russia in this hour of need.

Russia will find and destroy Ukraine’s top officials if they are linked to the attack, former president Dmitry Medvedev said. 

“If it is established that these are terrorists of the Kyiv regime … all of them must be found and ruthlessly destroyed as terrorists,” Medvedev wrote in a post on Telegram, adding that “official representatives of the state that committed such a crime” would also be punished.

“Unknown people opened fire at the Crocus City Hall. The evacuation of people is ongoing,” emergency services told TASS news agency on Friday.

Russia’s foreign ministry also condemned the “terrorist attack” at the concert by Russian rock band Piknik.

No details were given on casualties but Moscow mayor Sergei Sobyanin confirmed there were deaths in the “terrible tragedy.”

RIA Novosti agency reported wounded victims after “automatic gunfire,” citing its journalist at the scene.

“At least three people in camouflage burst into the ground floor of Crocus City Hall and opened fire with automatic weapons. There are definitely wounded,” a Sputnik correspondent said. “After that [the gunmen] threw a grenade or an incendiary bomb, which started a fire.”

“People in the hall laid down on the ground to avoid the fire, laying there for about 15-20 minutes, after which they began to crawl out. Many managed to get out,” the correspondent said.

Police were investigating the incident.

Local authorities said that “all forces and means have been directed to the scene of the incident,” and that “information about victims is being confirmed.”

Authorities said a hundred people have been evacuated from the venue’s basement.

Telegram news channels Baza and Mash, which are close to security forces, showed video images of flames and black smoke pouring from the concert hall.

Russia’s foreign ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said it had been a “terrorist attack”.

“The whole international community must condemn this odious crime,” she said on Telegram.