At least 40 people killed in Moscow concert hall attack

Isis says it carried out assault on 'gathering of Christians'

- MATT MATHERS

At least 40 people were killed and 145 wounded yesterday when gunmen opened fire with automatic weapons on concertgoers near Moscow. Isis claimed responsibility for the attack. Several gunmen dressed in camouflage sprayed bullets at a crowd waiting to see a rock gig at the Crocus City Hall.

Video from the scene showed the gunmen firing indiscriminately at screaming people as they tried to flee. Explosions were also heard from the venue, whose roof collapsed following a fire outbreak, with pictures showing flames and thick black smoke billowing into the sky.

“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.”

Russian authorities said they managed to evacuate 100 people hiding in the basement.

The country’s national guard said it was hunting for the attackers, whose identity was yet to be verified.

Isis later claimed responsibility for the attack on its Telegram channel. A statement from the group read: “Islamic State fighters attacked a large gathering of Christians in the city of Krasnogorsk on the outskirts of the Russian capital, Moscow, killing and wounding hundreds and causing great destruction to the place before they withdrew to their bases safely.”

It was not immediately clear exactly how many attackers were involved and what happened to them. Reports said that at least four people were involved.