At least 133 people were killed at a concert hall near Moscow in the deadliest terror attack in Russia since the 2004 Beslan siege. Just three days before the attack, Russian President Vladimir Putin dismissed warnings issued by Western embassies that imminent terror attacks were being planned in Moscow as “blatant blackmail” and “attempts to destabilise Russian society”.
Multiple armed men entered Crocus City Hall, a concert venue in the Moscow suburb of Krasnogorsk, at around 8 pm local time on Friday night, opening fire at the crowd who were waiting for a rock concert to begin. A fire also broke out on the upper floor of the venue, engulfing the building in flames as people tried to flee, while others who were hiding from the shooters ended up trapped inside the venue as the fire consumed much of the building.
Shooters seen on CCTV cameras inside the concert venue. ScreenshotThe concert hall building engulfed in flames. Photo: Ivan Vodopyanov / Kommersant / Sipa USASpecial police units deployed near the concert venue. Photo: Yuri Gripas / Vida Press / ABACA / ShutterstockThe fire that tore through the building led to the roof collapsing. Photo: Vasily Prudnikov / EPA-EFEThe fire raged for hours, with rescuers unable to reach the upper levels of the venue. Photo: Ivan Vodopyanov / Kommersant / Sipa USAPhoto: EPA-EFE/VASILY PRUDNIKOVThe suspected gunmen, who managed to flee the scene, were seen driving a white Renault. Photo: security camera footageThe lower floor of the concert hall in the immediate aftermath of the fire. Photo: governor of the Moscow regionForensic scientists analysing evidence at the venue. Photo: the Russian Investigative CommitteePeople lining up to donate blood at a Moscow blood bank. Photo: Denis Voronin / Moskva agencyRescuers removing debris from inside the concert hall on Saturday morning. Photo: the Russian Emergencies MinistryMedical staff remove victims’ bodies from the Crocus City Hall concert venue on Saturday morning. Photo: EPA-EFE/MAXIM SHIPENKOVAn armed policeman stationed near the burned out concert venue. Photo: EPA-EFE/MAXIM SHIPENKOVPeople bringing flowers and toys to a makeshift memorial near the concert venue on Saturday afternoon. Photo: EPA-EFE/MAXIM SHIPENKOVPhoto: EPA-EFE/MAXIM SHIPENKOV