At least 60 people were killed and 1115 injured in the terrorist attack on a concert hall on the outskirts of Moscow, for which the jihadist organization Islamic State (IS) claimed responsibility.

Russian authorities are still looking for the attackers, who according to the Islamic State Telegram post managed to escape and return to their base.

According to the Minister of Health Michael Murasko, 115 injured are being treated, including five children. The condition of 60 adults and one child is described as serious, raising fears that the death toll “may rise”.

Russia

Gunmen in camouflage uniforms burst into the packed Crocus City Hall – a concert hall in Krasnogorsk, northwest of Moscow – shortly after 8pm on Friday and opened fire indiscriminately, spreading death. Explosions followed and a fire broke out that quickly spread through the building.

A music producer who was in the dressing room said that “shortly before the start” of the concert, gunshots and screams were heard and he saw panicked spectators running outside.

Videos posted on the Telegram platform showed footage of the gunmen storming in, shots being fired in the auditorium, spectators taking cover behind seats and others rushing to the exit.

Russia

The fire was brought under control after several hours and after part of the roof collapsed.

Russian President Vladimir Putin he is being briefed on the developments by the head of the Federal Security Service (FSB) Alexander Bortnikov and he wished a “speedy recovery” to the injured.

Worldwide condemnation of the attack

The United Nations, the European Union and many foreign leaders condemned the bloody attackexpressing condolences to the families of the victims of the massacre.

UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres and the Security Council unequivocally condemned the terrorist attack. In particular, Antonio Guterres “condemns in the most unequivocal manner the terrorist attack” near Moscow and “expresses his condolences to the bereaved families, as well as to the people and government of the Russian Federation,” said Farhan Haq, spokesman for the general secretary of the UN.

The Minister of Foreign Affairs of Turkey, Hakan Fidan, spoke by phone with his Russian counterpart Sergey Lavrov and expressed his condolences for the terrorist attack in Moscow. According to Turkish diplomatic sources, Hakan Fidan condemned the heinous terrorist attack in Moscow and conveyed the condolences of the country’s President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and the Turkish people to the people and government of Russia.

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni she also referred to the tragic attack that took place in the Russian capital, expressing her condemnation and her solidarity with the families of the victims. In more detail, the Italian Prime Minister said in her statement: “The horror of the massacre of civilians, innocent citizens in Moscow, is unacceptable. The Italian government condemns in an absolute and clear manner this barbaric act of terrorism. I express my full solidarity with the victims and their relatives.”

The German Foreign Ministry expressed his condolences to the families of the victims of the bloody attack in Moscow and asked for the situation to be clarified as soon as possible. “The images of the horrific attack on innocent people at Crocus City Hall near Moscow are horrifying. The conditions must be clarified quickly. We express our deepest condolences to the families of the victims”, says the post on the account of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on the “X” platform

France denounced “heinous acts” and called for more information to be shed on the attack that took place earlier this evening at a concert hall on the outskirts of Moscow, in which at least 40 people were killed. “The images reaching us from Moscow are horrific. Our thoughts are with the victims and the injured and with the Russian people,” the French Foreign Ministry said in a message posted on the X social media platform.

US officials said Washington had information confirming the Islamic State group’s claim that its fighters carried out the deadly attack. They also recalled that the US had warned Russia about the terrorist threat two weeks ago.