Moscow attack: video captures gunmen storming concert hall and shooting dozens dead | BBC News

BBC News
22 Mar 202410:00

Summary

TLDRAt least 40 people were killed and over 100 injured in a terrorist attack at the Crocus City Hall in Moscow, where a heavily armed gunman opened fire in a packed theater. The assailants, who set the hall on fire, are believed to have escaped. Islamic State claimed responsibility for the attack, which has shocked Russia. The US had prior intelligence suggesting an imminent attack and had warned its citizens to avoid large gatherings in Moscow. Questions are raised about security lapses and the potential for the incident to escalate the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine.

Takeaways

  • 🔥 A heavily armed gunman attacked a packed theater near Moscow, resulting in at least 40 deaths and over 100 injuries.
  • 💥 The attacker targeted the Crocus City Hall, which caught fire after explosives were detonated during the incident.
  • 🚨 The event was supposed to be a rock concert, but turned into a scene of chaos and violence with indiscriminate shooting.
  • 🏃🏻‍♂️ Panic ensued as crowds tried to escape the auditorium amidst the gunfire and flames.
  • 🚒 Emergency services and Russian Special Forces responded to the scene, but some attackers reportedly managed to escape.
  • 🌎 The US Embassy had previously issued a warning about extremists planning to target large gatherings in Moscow, including concerts.
  • 🕯️ The mayor of Moscow described the incident as a 'terrible tragedy', and the Russian Foreign Ministry labeled it a 'bloody terrorist attack'.
  • 🥊 Islamic State claimed responsibility for the attack, though there has been no official confirmation from Russian authorities.
  • 🤝 The US shared intelligence with Russia about a possible ISIS attack in Moscow, which was publicly dismissed by Russia as propaganda.
  • 🇺🇦 Ukraine quickly denied any involvement in the attack and accused Russia of staging the incident to bolster support for its war efforts.

Q & A

  • What is the reported death toll and number of injuries from the attack at the concert hall near Moscow?

    -At least 40 people are reported dead and over a 100 injured.

  • Where did the attack take place?

    -The attack occurred at the Crocus City Hall, which includes a concert hall, near Moscow.

  • What happened during the attack according to the report?

    -A heavily armed gunman burst into a packed theater and opened fire, followed by the detonation of explosives, causing the hall to catch fire and resulting in panic and chaos among the crowd.

  • What was the initial event scheduled at the venue?

    -A rock concert was supposed to take place at the venue.

  • How did the attackers enter and move through the venue?

    -The attackers stormed the venue, shooting their way through the building and into the auditorium, firing indiscriminately at people.

  • What was the US Embassy's warning about two weeks prior to the attack?

    -The US Embassy issued a warning that extremists planned to target large gatherings in Moscow, including concerts, within 48 hours.

  • Has there been any claim of responsibility for the attack?

    -Islamic State (ISIS) claimed responsibility for the attack.

  • What was the reaction of the Ukrainian government to the attack?

    -The Ukrainian government categorically denied any involvement in the attack and accused Russia of staging the incident to bolster support for its war and mobilization.

  • What concerns were raised about the Russian authorities' response to the US warning?

    -There are concerns that the Russian authorities may have dismissed the US warning as propaganda and did not take it seriously, which could raise questions about what they knew and how they responded to the threat.

  • What is the significance of the US intelligence regarding this attack?

    -The US intelligence suggested that ISIS wanted to strike in Moscow, and this information was shared with Russian authorities under the 'duty to warn' protocol. The fact that the Russians publicly dismissed the warning could indicate a failure to act on the intelligence provided.

  • What are the potential implications of this attack for Russia and Ukraine?

    -The attack could lead to an escalation of the war between Russia and Ukraine, with fears of more devastating attacks. The Ukrainian government's denial of involvement and accusation of Russia staging the attack for political purposes adds to the complexity of the situation.

Outlines

00:00

🚨 Attack on Moscow Concert Hall

A devastating attack occurred at the Crocus City Hall in Moscow, where a heavily armed gunman opened fire during a rock concert, resulting in at least 40 deaths and over 100 injuries. Explosives detonated, setting part of the venue ablaze. Panic ensued as attendees tried to escape, with some being led to locked exits before finding refuge in the basement. The Russian authorities are actively searching for the attackers, who may have fled in a white car. This incident was preceded by a US Embassy warning of potential attacks on large gatherings in Moscow. Islamic State has claimed responsibility for the attack, adding to the shock and complexity of the situation. Russian President Vladimir Putin has been briefed, and security has been increased across the capital.

05:01

🌐 International Reactions and Analysis

Following the Moscow concert hall attack, the US stated it had intelligence linking Islamic State to the incident, which had been shared with Russian authorities. Ukrainian officials were quick to deny any involvement, emphasizing their focus on the battlefield rather than civilian targets. Ukrainian Military Intelligence suggested Russia might have staged the attack to rally support for its war efforts, though this is unverified. Security experts speculate the attack's style aligns with Islamic State's methods, recalling similar incidents in the past. There's scrutiny over Russia's response to prior warnings from the US, especially since the alert was dismissed as propaganda. The situation raises questions about potential prevention and the seriousness with which warnings were taken.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡Crocus City Hall

Crocus City Hall is mentioned as the location of a deadly attack in the script. It is a prominent concert venue near Moscow, Russia, where a heavily armed gunman opened fire during a rock concert. The reference to Crocus City Hall situates the incident geographically and highlights the severity of the attack, given the venue's size and its significance as a cultural hub. This setting is crucial for understanding the scale and impact of the tragedy.

💡terrorist attack

A terrorist attack refers to a violent act intended to create fear (terror), perpetrated for a religious, political, or ideological goal, often targeting civilians. In the script, the incident at Crocus City Hall is described as a 'bloody terrorist attack,' indicating a deliberate, violent assault on civilians with the aim of causing mass casualties and spreading terror, attributed to the Islamic State according to later claims in the narrative.

💡Islamic State

Islamic State, also known as ISIS or ISIL, is a jihadist militant group that claimed responsibility for the attack on the concert hall in the script. This group is known for carrying out brutal acts of terrorism across the globe. The claim of responsibility by Islamic State in the narrative connects the local incident in Moscow to global terrorism concerns and introduces the complexity of international terrorist networks.

💡emergency services

Emergency services refer to the public organizations that respond to urgent situations, including medical emergencies, fires, and law enforcement incidents. In the script, emergency services, police, and Russian Special Forces were mentioned as responding to the scene of the attack. Their involvement illustrates the immediate crisis response and the efforts to manage the situation and assist victims.

💡panic

Panic is a sudden, overwhelming fear that can cause mass hysteria and irrational behavior. In the context of the script, panic ensued as crowds fled from the auditorium after the attack began, highlighting the chaos and fear experienced by the concertgoers. The term captures the human response to the sudden and life-threatening nature of the attack.

💡intelligence

Intelligence, in the context of national security and law enforcement, refers to information gathered to predict, prevent, or respond to criminal and terrorist activities. The script mentions that U.S. officials had intelligence indicating a potential attack by extremists in Moscow, which underscores the role of intelligence in threat assessment and the challenges in preempting such attacks.

💡Ukraine

Ukraine is mentioned in the narrative as having been quick to deny any involvement in the Moscow attack. The mention of Ukraine relates to the geopolitical tensions between Russia and Ukraine, highlighting how national conflicts can intersect with and influence perceptions of terrorist incidents. Ukrainian authorities' denial and the subsequent discussion reflect the complex international relations and blame dynamics in the aftermath of the attack.

💡warning

A warning, in this context, refers to an alert issued by a government or organization about a potential threat or danger. The script notes that the U.S. Embassy had issued a warning about extremists planning to target large gatherings in Moscow, which is significant for understanding the prelude to the attack and the potential for preventive action or the lack thereof.

💡security correspondent

A security correspondent is a journalist or reporter specializing in security, defense, and terrorism-related news. In the script, Gordon Carrera, identified as a security correspondent, provides expert analysis on the attack's implications and the potential perpetrators, offering viewers an in-depth understanding of the security context and the broader implications of the incident.

💡propaganda

Propaganda refers to information, especially of a biased or misleading nature, used to promote a political cause or point of view. In the script, Russian authorities dismissed the U.S. warning about a potential attack as 'propaganda,' indicating a dismissive or skeptical stance toward the intelligence provided and reflecting the contentious nature of international communications and relations concerning security threats.

Highlights

At least 40 people are dead and over a 100 injured after a heavily armed gunman attacked a packed theater near Moscow.

The incident occurred at the Crocus City Hall, which caught fire after explosives were detonated.

The venue was supposed to host a rock concert, but instead, it was stormed by attackers firing indiscriminately.

The mayor of Moscow described the event as a terrible tragedy.

The Russian foreign Ministry labeled the attack as a bloody terrorist act.

Witnesses reported that the attackers locked an exit, leading to panic as crowds tried to flee the auditorium.

Russian Special Forces and police rushed to the scene, with some attackers reportedly escaping.

The US Embassy had previously issued a warning about extremists planning to target large gatherings in Moscow, including concerts.

Islamic State claimed responsibility for the attack, with the scale of destruction and loss of life becoming clearer.

The Russian authorities have not yet commented on the ISIS claim.

Security has been stepped up at key installations in the Russian capital, including airports and railway stations.

Questions are being raised about how armed men could enter a prominent concert venue and carry out such a bloody attack.

US officials believe they have intelligence confirming ISIS responsibility for the attack.

The US had shared intelligence with Russian authorities warning of a possible ISIS strike in Moscow.

Ukraine has denied any involvement in the attack, with officials stating they had nothing to do with it.

Ukrainian Military Intelligence accused Russia of staging the attack to bolster support for its war and mobilization.

The attack is being called the worst terror attack in Russia for many years.

The US had monitoring reports that extremists were preparing to strike imminently, which was related to the intelligence about the possible ISIS attack in Moscow.

The public dismissal of the US warning by Russia could raise questions about what they knew and how seriously they took the threat.

The situation raises concerns about the potential for escalation in Russia's war on Ukraine following the attack.

Transcripts

00:00

State security services say at least 40

00:02

people are dead and over a 100 injured

00:05

after a heavily armed gunman burst into

00:07

a packed theater near near Moscow an

00:09

open fire now it happened at the crocus

00:12

Concert Hall part of which is in Flames

00:14

after explosives were detonated Steve

00:16

Rosenberg our Russia editor has the very

00:18

latest from Moscow and there are some

00:20

upsetting scenes in his

00:25

report a Russian Concert Hall under

00:28

attack

00:31

gunman had stormed the venue near Moscow

00:34

the crocus City Hall they went on the

00:36

Rampage shooting their way through the

00:39

building and into the auditorium there

00:43

was supposed to be a rock concert

00:45

here instead

00:48

this the attackers walked through the

00:51

Stalls firing

00:54

indiscriminately dozens of people are

00:56

reported to have been killed they've set

00:58

the hall on fire the hall on fire he

01:01

says as more shots ring out then the

01:04

rush to

01:05

escape there's panic panic she says as

01:09

the crowds fled from the auditorium and

01:12

tried to get

01:14

out soon the whole building was

01:17

Ablaze the mayor of Moscow said it was a

01:20

terrible

01:21

tragedy the Russian foreign Ministry

01:23

called it a bloody terrorist

01:27

attack I saw how the terrorists came in

01:30

and started shooting everyone he says we

01:32

were led to an exit but it was locked we

01:34

ran around looking for a way out in the

01:37

end we went into the basement waited for

01:39

the Emergency

01:41

Services police and Russian Special

01:43

Forces rushed to the scene some of the

01:46

attackers are reported to have escaped

01:48

the search is on to find

01:51

them two weeks ago the US Embassy here

01:54

issued a warning that extremists plan to

01:56

Target large gatherings in Moscow

01:59

including concerts within 48 hours it's

02:02

not clear whether there's any connection

02:05

between that alert and this attack the

02:07

images are just horrible um and uh just

02:11

hard to watch and our thoughts obviously

02:14

are going to be with the the victims of

02:16

this terrible terrible shooting attack

02:20

who were the attackers there's been no

02:22

confirmation on their identities from

02:24

the Russian authorities but late tonight

02:27

Islamic State claimed responsib for the

02:30

attack the scale of Destruction and loss

02:33

of life is becoming clear after an

02:36

assault on civilians that has shocked

02:40

Russia shock the operative word Steve

02:43

any word tonight on the whereabouts of

02:45

the attackers did they get

02:49

away well the latest information we have

02:52

is they did get away possibly in a white

02:55

car so the search is on to find them who

02:58

were they ukra has said it had nothing

03:01

to do with this attack and as I

03:03

mentioned in that in that report a short

03:05

while ago there were reports that

03:07

Islamic State had claimed responsibility

03:10

for the attack on the concert hall uh

03:13

the Russian authorities have yet to

03:14

comment on that Vladimir Putin uh has

03:18

made no public comments on uh on what

03:20

happened at the kroer city Concert Hall

03:22

but we're told he's been kept up to dat

03:25

uh with uh with events there meanwhile

03:28

security has been stepped up here in the

03:31

Russian Capital at Key installations so

03:33

for example at airports uh at Railway

03:35

stations of course questions are already

03:38

being asked Clive how is it possible for

03:41

armed men to get into a a very prominent

03:44

concert venue uh where there were

03:46

potentially thousands of people

03:48

attending this concert and carry out

03:51

such a a bloody attack especially since

03:54

uh earlier this month uh us diplomats

03:56

had warned that some kind of attack on a

04:00

public gathering in Moscow possibly a

04:03

concert uh was imminent now the

04:05

Americans were talking about an attack

04:07

within 48 Hours it didn't happen but of

04:10

course what we've seen tonight in Moscow

04:13

was a terrible attack at least dozens of

04:16

people killed and an attack which has

04:19

shocked this whole country yeah Steve

04:21

briefly you mentioned Islamic State

04:23

claiming responsibility um is that a

04:26

shock a surprise potentially to people

04:28

where you are

04:32

well there were suggestions uh that uh

04:35

an is ATT Act was possible here so

04:38

perhaps it won't come as as so much of a

04:40

shock but as I say the search continues

04:44

for the attackers and perhaps we'll have

04:46

more information on this tomorrow sure

04:48

okay that the uh live shot there uh the

04:51

scene outside that concert hall security

04:54

of course incredibly stepped up thanks

04:58

Steve Steve Ros a book there in Moscow

05:00

let's get reaction from Washington with

05:02

Sarah Smith our North America editor uh

05:05

who is there and from Kev Sarah reinford

05:08

our Eastern Europe correspondent is

05:10

there too Sarah first of all what are

05:12

the White House saying about all

05:15

this well here um us officials are

05:18

saying that America does have

05:20

intelligence which they believe confirms

05:22

that Islamic State were responsible for

05:24

this attack uh and they believe um there

05:28

the statement made by um is our news

05:31

partner here in America CBS has a source

05:34

who says that there's been a steady

05:36

stream of intelligence dating as far

05:38

back as November saying that Isis wanted

05:41

to strike in Moscow and that that

05:44

intelligence was shared with the Russian

05:46

authorities under what's known as the

05:48

duty to warn so it's being assumed that

05:51

that warning um that the state

05:53

department put out that um Steve

05:54

Rosenberg referred to and telling

05:56

Americans to stay away from large

05:57

Gatherings including concerts because

06:00

the US was monitoring reports that

06:02

extremists were preparing to strike

06:04

imminently it's presumed that that was

06:06

related to this intelligence about uh

06:09

Islamic State wanting to strike in

06:11

Moscow okay Sarah reinford over to you

06:13

in Kev um the ukrainians were very quick

06:17

to make it clear they were not part of

06:19

this they were not

06:23

responsible yeah and I think of course

06:25

because Russia and Ukraine are at War it

06:26

was inevitable that some might suggest

06:29

that K was some way involved we have

06:31

heard very quickly from here from

06:32

officials in Kev that that is not the

06:34

case the foreign Ministry put out a

06:36

statement saying it categorically

06:37

rejects any kind of accusation of

06:39

Ukrainian involvement we heard from a

06:41

presidential adviser too saying Ukraine

06:43

has nothing to do with it he said there

06:45

was no way that Ukraine would attack

06:47

civilians in this way and that Ukraine's

06:49

war with Russia will be decided on the

06:51

battlefields now Ukrainian Military

06:53

Intelligence went much further and they

06:55

in fact accused Russia of staging this

06:57

attack saying it needs to bolster

06:58

support for its war and for mobilization

07:01

to find more soldiers to actually fight

07:03

uh for Vladimir Putin's war on Ukraine

07:06

there is no evidence of that of course

07:08

these are two War the two countries very

07:10

much involved in an information and

07:11

psychological War as well as one on the

07:14

battlefield so there's a lot that's

07:15

still unclear but I can tell you that

07:17

here in Ukraine as the news of that

07:19

attack in Moscow was coming in there was

07:21

fear here because people were worried

07:24

that Ukraine would be blamed and that

07:26

that would have consequences here in

07:28

Ukraine that there could be an

07:29

escalation of Russia's war on Ukraine

07:31

more devastating attacks just after last

07:34

night we saw 150 missiles and drones

07:37

fired by Russia right across Ukraine

07:40

well the big question who was

07:41

responsible for what is now being called

07:44

the worst terror attack in Russia for

07:46

many years Gordon Carrera our security

07:48

correspondent is here so it seems as if

07:51

the finger of blame is being moved away

07:53

from Ukraine the Americans we heard

07:55

Sarah Smith suggest are claiming it was

07:58

Islamic State yes and in the last hour

08:00

we've had this statement from so-called

08:02

Islamic State Isis saying they were

08:04

responsible and that their attackers had

08:06

somehow got back to their bases safely

08:08

was the language they use now we can't

08:10

independently confirm that at this point

08:13

and occasionally we've seen false claims

08:14

from the group in the past so we have to

08:16

have a bit of caution however I think it

08:19

was always a strong possibility why well

08:21

the nature of this attack Maring gunmen

08:24

going around trying to kill as many

08:26

civilians as possible that is the kind

08:28

of thing we've seen Isis doing in the

08:30

past for instance we saw it at a concert

08:32

in Paris in 2015 at the batter Clan

08:34

theater something very similar so we'll

08:37

have to wait for further confirmation

08:39

very important to see what Moscow said

08:41

as we heard there from Sarah reinford

08:43

and Sarah Smith there's been this

08:44

question and concern that perhaps the

08:46

Russians might try and blame Ukraine for

08:48

it and what would that mean and because

08:50

you've got this intelligence that the US

08:52

clearly had pointing to a possible

08:54

attack around March 7th on a concert now

08:57

that is significant because it's suggest

08:59

the US might have intercepted

09:01

Communications or had some kind of

09:02

intelligence pointing to this but the

09:05

Russians appear to have dismissed it

09:07

publicly after the Americans went public

09:09

so that's going to raise big questions

09:11

for Moscow about what they knew and how

09:13

seriously they took it which might

09:15

explain why we haven't heard from

09:17

Vladimir Putin as yet so to be clear the

09:20

Americans would have communicated this

09:22

intelligence to the Russians despite the

09:25

enmity between the both sides well

09:27

that's right I mean they made it public

09:28

so they made it public and they put it

09:30

on their website for US citizens there

09:32

that there was this warning and the

09:33

Russians dismissed it in a statement

09:34

they described it as propaganda so I

09:37

think that will raise questions there's

09:38

always that question after an attack

09:40

like this could it have been stopped but

09:42

here if there's signs that a warning was

09:44

dismissed that could be very awkward for

09:47

Moscow and very difficult so I think

09:49

it'll be very important to see what

09:52

Vladimir Putin says and how Moscow

09:54

responds to this sure indeed okay Gordon

09:56

thank you Gordon Carrera our security

09:58

correspondent there