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| Emergency vehicles are parked near the burning Crocus City Hall following a reported shooting incident on Friday. (Maxim Shemetov/Reuters) |
The Islamic State group claimed responsibility for a mass shooting at a concert hall on the outskirts of Moscow, leaving dozens dead and over 100 injured. The attack occurred at Crocus City Hall in Krasnogorsk, west of central Moscow, where at least three gunmen opened fire with automatic weapons. The shooting took place before a scheduled performance by the Russian band Picnic.
The attackers reportedly retreated safely after the assault. Videos and photos from the scene showed the concert hall engulfed in flames. The Islamic State, primarily based in Iraq and Syria, has offshoots in Afghanistan and Africa, and has recruited fighters from Russia.
Video: Several armed men have forcibly entered the Crocus City Hall concert venue in Moscow
Russian authorities, including Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin, canceled all public events in Moscow following the attack. The incident comes on the heels of Russian President Vladimir Putin's reelection and amid Russia's ongoing war against Ukraine.
The U.S. Embassy in Moscow had issued a security alert earlier in the month warning of possible attacks on large gatherings in Moscow, including concerts. However, there is no indication that Ukraine was involved in the shooting, according to Ukrainian and U.S. officials.