The Russian capital still wakes up in shock this Saturday morning, the day after a bloody shooting whose death toll could rise further.
More than 60 people were killed and 115 injured on Friday evening in an armed attack followed by a huge fire in a concert hall in the suburbs of Moscow, which was claimed by the jihadist group Islamic State (IS).
Russian law enforcement officials said they were still “looking” for the attackers, who reportedly fled after the assault.
Russian diplomatic spokesperson Maria Zakharova denounced a “bloody terrorist attack” and a “monstrous crime”.
What happened ?
Russian media began reporting on Friday around 8:15 p.m. in Moscow (6:15 p.m. in Paris) an assault carried out by several armed individuals at Crocus City Hall, a concert hall located in Krasnogorsk, on the northwest exit of the Russian capital.
Russian rock band Piknik was scheduled to perform that evening and the shooting broke out before the show began, according to the FSB, cited by Russian media.
According to a journalist from the state news agency Ria Novosti, individuals in camouflage clothing burst into the concert hall before opening fire and throwing "a grenade or an incendiary bomb, which which caused a fire.
According to AFP, plumes of black smoke were escaping from the roof of the building, while a very large presence of police and emergency services was being organized.
The flames spread over nearly 13,000 m2 before the fire was contained, according to emergency services.
VIDEO.
Moscow: “bloody attack” in a concert hall leaves at least 60 dead
“There are still a few outbreaks but the fire has been practically contained.
Rescuers were able to enter the auditorium” where the roof had collapsed, the governor of the Moscow region, Andrei Vorobiov, said overnight on Telegram.
Clearing work has started there “and will last all day”, he said in the morning, specifying that 477 rescuers were deployed on the scene.
No information was given on how many people were potentially trapped inside.
The Russian Emergency Situations Ministry only specified that firefighters managed to evacuate around a hundred people who were in the basement of the room.
How many victims are there?
The provisional report shows more than 60 deaths, including three children according to the Ministry of Health of the Moscow region, cited by Ria Novosti.
According to the same source, 115 people are hospitalized, including five children.
Sixty adults and one minor among these injured are in serious condition.
Authorities have warned that the death toll from the attack “may rise.”
Almost all necessary surgical interventions have been carried out, Deputy Prime Minister Tatiana Golikova was quoted as saying by the Russian news agency Tass.
The Minister of Health, Mikhail Murashko, also confirmed overnight that all interventions "concerning emergency care have been completed", but that "work with patients in serious condition in particular continues", still according to the agency, which reports that hundreds of people showed up this Saturday morning at blood donation centers in Moscow.
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Moscow attack: more than 60 people killed, attackers still sought
How did the Russian authorities react?
Vladimir Putin, who was informed "from the first minutes" of the attack, according to the Kremlin, wished a speedy recovery to the victims and thanked the doctors, after receiving reports from law enforcement officials and services rescue.
He has not yet spoken publicly.
The Investigative Committee opened an investigation according to Russian media, and released a video showing investigators working in the lobby of the concert hall, where an automatic weapon and ammunition magazines can be seen.
The Telegram news channels Baza and Mash, known to be close to the police, have published videos showing at least two armed men advancing in the hall of the building, and others in which corpses and bodies appear. groups of people rushing towards the exit.
Other images, which have circulated notably online, show spectators hiding behind seats or evacuating the concert hall.
Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin announced the cancellation of all public events this weekend.
The capital's main museums and theaters have announced their closure.
Several other Russian regions also announced that they had canceled all public events on Saturday and Sunday, as a sign of solidarity.
Reinforced security measures have been put in place according to Russian television, particularly in Moscow airports and other major cities in the country.
Who claimed responsibility for the attack?
IS, which has already targeted Russia on several occasions, claimed on one of its Telegram accounts that its fighters “attacked a large gathering (…) in the vicinity of the Russian capital Moscow”.
The jihadist organization claimed that its commando had then “returned to its base in complete safety”.
Before that, Russia and Ukraine had blamed each other for the attack.
Former President and current Deputy Chairman of the Security Council of Russia Dmitry Medvedev promised to “destroy” “terrorists of the kyiv regime” if they were found to be linked to the attack.
For his part, Ukrainian presidential advisor Mykhailo Podoliak assured that his country had “absolutely nothing to do” with this “terrorist act”.
A unit of Russian anti-Kremlin fighters behind several armed incursions on the Russian border in recent months, the Russian Freedom Legion, has also denied any involvement.
Ukrainian military intelligence accused “Russian special services” of being behind the attack in Moscow in order to “accuse Ukraine and provoke “escalation” and “expand” its assault. against his neighbor.
The US Embassy in Russia warned its citizens two weeks ago that it was "closely monitoring reports that extremists have imminent plans to target large gatherings in Moscow, including concerts."
The White House said the United States shared this intelligence with Russian authorities.
She also clarified that she had “no indication at this stage that Ukraine or Ukrainians are involved”.
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Moscow: the White House speaks of a “terrible” attack and sees no link with Ukraine
What were the reactions internationally?
The White House said it was "in thoughts with the victims of the terrible attack", while the EU and Spain said they were "shocked" and Italy said that "the horror of the massacre of innocent civilians in Moscow is unacceptable.”
For his part, French President Emmanuel Macron “strongly condemns the terrorist attack claimed by the Islamic State”, according to the Élysée.
“France expresses its solidarity with the victims, their loved ones and all the Russian people,” continues the French presidency in a press release.
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, the Security Council and many other countries also condemned the attack.
As for Chinese President Xi Jinping, he presented his “condolences” to Vladimir Putin on Saturday, and assured him of Beijing’s “firm support”.