In what has become the deadliest on Russian soil since the 2004 Beslan tragedy, at least 90 individuals were killed and another 100 injured when Islamic State terrorists dressed in camouflage unleashed a barrage of automatic gunfire on concertgoers. The attack occurred near Moscow on Friday, just before the Soviet-era rock group “Picnic” was scheduled to perform at the Crocus City Hall, a venue capable of hosting 6,200 attendees located west of the capital.
Russian authorities have confirmed the death toll to surpass 93, with health officials reporting about 100 individuals wounded, including around 60 in critical condition. The severity of this attack has drawn immediate comparisons to the Beslan school siege, where Islamist militants held over 1,000 hostages. The Islamic State, through its Amaq agency on Telegram, has taken responsibility, describing the attack as a strike on the outskirts of Moscow that resulted in numerous casualties and significant destruction. This claim has been corroborated by US intelligence, which had previously warned Russia of the potential for such an attack.
This attack comes in the wake of Russian efforts to thwart a plot against a Moscow synagogue by ISIS-K, an affiliate of Islamic State focused on establishing a caliphate in various Asian regions. The international community, including the United States, European, and Arab nations, has expressed shock and condolences, with the United Nations Security Council condemning the attack as “heinous and cowardly.” In response, Russia has heightened security across the nation, canceling large public events and intensifying patrols in Moscow and other major cities.