The terrorist attack was claimed by an organization close to Daesh. In the first hours, accusations were exchanged between Moscow and Kyiv, with the fear of possible escalation on the war front
The death toll from the attack that last night targeted the Crocus City Hall concert hall in Krasnogorsk, on the western outskirts of Mosca. First a shootout, then at least two large explosions and a fire that engulfed the facade and then collapsed at least part of the roof of the building where a hall is located just before a concert by the Picnic group, scheduled for 8pm local time. For the Russian Investigative Committee, as reported by the Russian news agency Ria Novosti. «At the site of the terrorist attack in the Crocus City Hall concert hall, when the emergency services removed the rubble, more bodies were found. The death toll is therefore currently 115 people”, the investigators report. According to preliminary data, people died from gunshot wounds and poisoning from combustion products. In the attack the terrorists used automatic weapons and also a flammable liquid to set fire to the concert hall. Meanwhile, the Kremlin announces that it has arrested 11 people, of which, according to the Russian authorities, 4 are terrorists.
The five-man commando (according to some sources) went into action with automatic rifles, and at least one grenade was detonated just as thousands of people were streaming towards the concert hall (the Crocus City Hall can hold 6,200 and the concert was sold out). The armed men burst in, opening fire at point-blank range on those present, the Russian news agency Ria Novosti reports, citing eyewitnesses. The United States does not have any information related to the shooting nor does it initially appear that Ukraine was involved, the spokesperson for the US National Security Council said, John Kirby, shortly after the attack. The response from the Russian Foreign Ministry was immediate, via its spokeswoman Maria Zakharova: «If the US has any information on this matter, it must pass it to Moscow immediately».
Last March 7, the USA, followed by Great Britain and then most of the European countries, issued their notice an attack alert for Moscow. “Ukraine had absolutely nothing to do with the shooting,” Ukrainian presidential advisor Mykhailo Podolyak later said. “Russia will kill Ukrainian leaders if they are linked to the attack on Moscow,” declared former Russian president Dmitry Medvedev, current number two on the Security Council of the Russian Federation. The Kremlin said that President Vladimir Putin «constantly receives reports from all relevant services, information on what is happening and the measures taken».
The claim of ISIS-Khorasan
An Islamic State branch claimed responsibility for the attack, and U.S. officials confirmed the claim shortly after. The ‘New York Times’ wrote it. “The United States – writes the newspaper ‘NYT’ – gathered information in March that the Islamic State-Khorasan, known as Isis-K, the group’s branch based in Afghanistan, had planned an attack on Moscow, according to officials ISIS members are active in Russia, a US official said. After a period of relative calm, the Islamic State has sought to increase its external attacks. Most of these plots in Europe have been foiled, prompting believe the group had reduced capabilities.“ISIS-K has become fixated on Russia for the last two years,” often criticizing President Vladimir Putin in its propaganda, said Colin Clarke, a counterterrorism analyst at the Soufan Group, a New York-based security consultancy. “ISIS-K accuses the Kremlin of having Muslim blood on its hands, referring to Moscow’s interventions in Afghanistan, Chechnya and Syria.” Friday’s attack on Moscow, like that of January in Iran claimed by the group, could cause it to reconsider its ability to strike outside its national territory. In addition to publicly warning on March 7 of a possible attack, U.S. officials said they privately told Russian officials that intelligence indicated an imminent attack. It is unclear how much information the United States provided to Russian officials beyond that contained in the public warning.
It remains a hard blow for the Russian leader, less than a week after his re-election to a fifth non-consecutive term at the helm of the country. Yesterday presidential spokesman Dmitri Peskov said that “Russia is at war, everyone must understand this”, citing the importance of “internal mobilization”. And relaunching rumors of a new mobilization of at least 300 thousand men after the presidential elections, with the aim of taking Kharkiv. The attack outside Moscow reveals at least serious flaws in Russian internal security, with the aggravating circumstance of a possible escape of the attackers.
The reactions
The first messages of solidarity arrive from the world. Among these that of Yulia Nalnavaya, widow of the murdered Russian opponent Alexei Navalny, “What a nightmare in Crocus. Condolences to the families of the victims and best wishes for a speedy recovery to the injured”. She writes it on her X profile commenting on the Moscow massacre. “All people involved in this crime must be found and held accountable,” she adds. While the spokesperson of the European Commission for Foreign Affairs Peter Stano writes «The EU is shocked and horrified by the news relating to a terrorist attack. The EU condemns any attack against civilians. Our thoughts go out to all Russian citizens affected.”
What a nightmare in Crocus. Condolences to the families of the victims and congratulations to the injured. Everyone involved in this crime must be found and held accountable.
— Yulia Navalnaya (@yulia_navalnaya) March 22, 2024
From Italy the condolences of the President of the Republic, Sergio Mattarella «The cruel terrorist attack committed in Moscow calls for the strongest condemnation. Horror and execration must accompany violence against all innocent civilian victims. Fighting all forms of terrorism must be a common commitment for the entire international community.” While the Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni declares: «The horror of the massacre of innocent civilians in Moscow is unacceptable. Firm and total condemnation of the Italian government for this heinous act of terrorism. I express my full solidarity with those affected and the families of the victims.” Words of solidarity also from the President of the Senate Ignazio La Russa which expresses: «My firm and total condemnation for the terrorist attack that occurred at Crocus City Hall which caused the death of dozens of innocent civilians. The images arriving from Moscow are as eloquent as they are dramatic. Sincere and deep condolences go to the families of the victims.” The deputy prime minister and minister of Infrastructure and Transport Matteo Salvini he wrote on X: «My solidarity and that of the League with the Russian people for today’s shocking attack».