Islamic State Claims Responsibility for Deadly Assault During “Picnic” Concert

A devastating attack at Moscow’s Crocus City Hall has resulted in the deaths of at least 40 people, following a shooting and explosion on Friday, 22 March. The attack took place during a concert by the Russian band “Picnic” in Krasnogorsk, on the outskirts of the capital.

Footage from the scene showed large plumes of smoke and intense flames engulfing the concert hall, before firefighters managed to bring the blaze under control. Eyewitnesses reported gunmen opening fire on the crowd during the performance, causing chaos and panic among concertgoers.

The Islamic State has claimed responsibility for the attack, adding to the shock and horror surrounding the incident. Authorities have confirmed that a large-scale investigation is underway, with security forces working to apprehend those responsible.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has been receiving regular updates on the situation, with Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov describing the event as a “terrible tragedy”. Moscow’s mayor, Sergei Sobyanin, expressed his condolences to the families of the victims, offering his sympathy on social media platform Telegram.

The tragedy has left the city in shock as authorities continue to piece together the details of the deadly assault.