ISIS has claimed responsibility for the attack in Moscow, Russia, where at least 40 people were killed and dozens injured in a shooting at a concert hall.
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A group of armed individuals forcefully entered a major Moscow concert venue on Friday, unleashing automatic gunshots on the audience. The attack resulted in the death of at least 40 people and left over 100 others injured, while also causing a fire to break out in the venue. This bold incident occurred shortly after President Vladimir Putin’s recent actions.cemented his grip on power in a highly orchestrated electoral landslide.
Sergei Sobyanin, the Mayor of Moscow, has referred to the incident as a “massive tragedy” and stated that the local government is currently conducting an investigation into the possibility of terrorism. This attack, which resulted in a burning concert hall and a collapsed roof, is the most fatal act of violence in Russia in recent years and has occurred during a time of great turmoil in the country.
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The Islamic State group has taken credit for the assault through a declaration shared on connected platforms on social media. The group stated, via its Aamaq news agency, that it targeted a large congregation of Christians in Krasnogorsk, a city on the outskirts of the Russian capital, Moscow, resulting in numerous fatalities and injuries. At this time, it is difficult to confirm the validity of this assertion.
The power system of Ukraine was heavily attacked, causing severe damage to its largest hydroelectric plant and other energy facilities. This left over a million people without electricity.
According to John Kirby, a representative for the White House National Security Council, on Friday he was unable to provide full information, however he mentioned, “The images are extremely distressing and difficult to witness.”
Kirby expressed his condolences for the victims of the horrific shooting, acknowledging that there are still loved ones who have not yet been notified. He recognized that it will be a difficult day for many families affected by the tragedy.
In response to a warning from the U.S. Embassy in Moscow, other Western embassies also advised Americans to stay away from crowded areas in the Russian capital due to the potential threat of extremist activity targeting large gatherings.
When asked about the notification released by the embassy on March 7, Kirby deferred the question to the State Department and stated that he did not believe it was connected to this particular attack.
When asked if Washington had prior knowledge of the attack, Kirby stated that he was not aware of any information before the attack occurred.
In the 2000s, Russia experienced a number of devastating terrorist attacks while engaged in conflict with separatist groups in the region of Chechnya.
In October of 2002, during a hostage situation at a Moscow theater, around 800 individuals were taken captive by Chechen militants. The following two days, Russian special forces took action and breached the building, resulting in the deaths of 129 hostages and 41 Chechen fighters. The majority of the casualties were due to the use of narcotic gas by Russian forces in order to suppress the attack.
In September 2004, a group of approximately 30 Chechen rebels took control of a school in Beslan, a city in southern Russia, and held hundreds of people hostage. The resulting siege resulted in a violent and deadly massacre that lasted for two days, resulting in the deaths of over 330 individuals, including many children.
The report was contributed to by David Martin, Andy Triay, and Olivia Gazis from CBS News.
Source: cbsnews.com