More than 60 people have been killed and 145 wounded when camouflage-clad gunmen fired automatic weapons on concertgoers near Moscow with Islamic State claiming responsibility for what was one of the deadliest attacks on Russia in decades.
Gunmen sprayed civilians with bullets just before Soviet-era rock group Picnic was to perform to a full house at the 6200-seat the Crocus City Hall just west of Moscow.
Verified video showed people taking their seats in the hall, then rushing for the exits as repeated gunfire echoed above screams. Other video showed men shooting at groups of people. Some victims lay motionless in pools of blood.
“Suddenly there were bangs behind us – shots. A burst of firing – I do not know what,” one witness, who asked not to be identified by name, told Reuters.
“A stampede began. Everyone ran to the escalator,” the witness said. “Everyone was screaming; everyone was running.”
Raging inferno
Flames leapt into the sky and plumes of black smoke rose above the venue as hundreds of blue lights from emergency vehicles flashed into the night, Reuters pictures and video showed.
Helicopters sought to douse the flames, and around 100 people were evacuated from the basement, Russian media reported. The roof of the venue was collapsing, state news agency RIA said.
It was not immediately clear who the gunmen were. No group has yet claimed responsibility.
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