Moscow concert hall: Dozens dead after blast, shooting

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi stressed his country's solidarity with the Russian government and people, in response to the attack.

"We strongly condemn the heinous terrorist attack in Moscow," Modi said in a social media post on X, formerly Twitter. "India stands in solidarity with the government and the people of the Russian Federation in this hour of grief."

Modi sent thoughts and prayers to the families of the victims of the attack.

The US had warned Russian authorities about a potential terrorist attack targeting "large gatherings" in Moscow, the White House said.

National Security Council Spokesperson Adrienne Watson said the warning came earlier in March, adding that it was in compliance with a long-standing "duty to warn" US policy. 

"Earlier this month, the US government had information about a planned terrorist attack in Moscow — potentially targeting large gatherings, to include concerts" and Washington "shared this information with Russian authorities," Watson said.

Russian President Vladimir Putin wished those injured in the terror attack on a Moscow concert hall a speedy recovery.

"The president wished everyone a speedy recovery and conveyed his gratitude to the doctors," Russian news agencies reported, citing Deputy Prime Minister Tatyana Golikova. 

The death toll from the Moscow concert terrorist attack has climbed to more than 60, Russian media reported.

Russia's investigative committee reported on the updated death toll on Saturday, the Russian RIA news agency said. It cited the committee as adding that the death toll could further increase.

A spokesperson for the committee was quoted by RIA as saying it was too early to say anything about the fate of the attackers.

Meanwhile, Russian news outlets said that President Vladimir Putin was updated on the deadly attack, having spoken to law enforcement officials.

Putin received reports from the head of the security services (FSB), the Investigative Committee, the National Guard, and the ministers of interior, health and emergency situations, the news agencies reported, citing the Kremlin.

The United Nations Security Council called on all states to "cooperate actively with the Government of the Russian Federation, as well as all other relevant authorities" to bring to account those responsible for the terrorist attack.

In a statement, the council said the perpetrators and backers of the "reprehensible acts of terrorism" must be held accountable and brought to justice.

"The members of the Security Council condemned in the strongest terms the heinous and cowardly terrorist attack," their statement said.

French President Emmanuel Macron "firmly" condemned the attack in a statement issued by the Elysee.

The updated version of the statement saw Macron acknowledge the claim of responsibility by the "Islamic State" militant group. 

Macron expressed solidarity with the victims of the attack as well as the Russian people.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres "condemns in the strongest possible terms" the attack on a concert hall in Moscow, his spokesman said.

"The Secretary-General conveys his deep condolences to the bereaved families and the people and the Government of the Russian Federation," spokesman Farhan Haq said in a statement.

The attack was the deadliest in Russia in years, killing at least 40 people, and came as the country's war in Ukraine dragged into its third year.

The "Islamic State" (IS) claimed responsibility for the attack on a concert venue, Crocus City Hall, near Moscow.

IS fighters "attacked a large gathering... on the outskirts of the Russian capital Moscow," the group said in a statement on the Telegram messaging app.

The statement said the attackers had "retreated to their bases safely."

Meanwhile, Russian state news agency RIA Novosti reported that the terrorists allegedly left the concert hall in a white Renault car.

Two weeks ago, the US Embassy in Russia warned that "extremists" had imminent plans for an attack in Moscow.

The embassy had issued its warning several hours after the FSB said it had foiled an attack on a Moscow synagogue by a cell of the militant group "Islamic State."

The German Foreign Ministry has called for an investigation into the background of the terrorist attack at a concert hall outside Moscow.

"The images of the terrible attack on innocent people in Crocus City Hall near Moscow are horrific. The background must be investigated quickly," it wrote on X, formerly Twitter.

"Our deepest condolences with the families of the victims," the ministry added.

Meanwhile, French Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs also said that the images from Moscow tonight are horrifying.

"Our thoughts go to the victims and to those injured as well as to the Russian people. All effort has to be made to determine the causes of these heinous acts," it wrote on X.

The Europen Union is shocked and appalled by the reports of a terrorist attack in the Crocus City Hall in Moscow, the bloc's lead spokesperson for foreign affairs and security policy, Peter Stano, wrote on social media.

"The EU condemns any attacks against civilians," he added. "Our thoughts are with all those Russian citizens affected."

Meanwhile, the US Embassy in Moscow also said it was shocked by reports of a terrorist attack at the concert venue.

"We express our sincere condolences to the Russian people for the loss of life and injuries sustained as a result of today's terrorist attack," it wrote on Telegram.

Members of Piknik, the Soviet-era rock band scheduled to play a concert at the Crocus City Hall when the attack occurred, said they were "alive and safe." 

"There was a tragedy that took place, the scale of which we can't yet assess," their statement said, according to the BBC. "We are following the news and awaiting official information. The musicians and management are alive and safe.

An investigative team has begun work at the site of the terrorist attack at the Crocus City Hall, Svetlana Petrenko, a representative of the Investigative Committee of the Russian Federation, told reporters.

"An investigative team, experts and criminologists arrived at the scene and began work," Petrenko said.

According to Petrenko, the work of the investigative and operational groups at the site of the terrorist attack is personally coordinated by the chairman of the Investigative Committee, Alexander Bastrykin.

Meanwhile, Russia's national guard, or Rosgvardia, said it was searching for the perpetrators of an attack.

"Special units of the Russian Federal Guard are working at the site of the terrorist attack at the Crocus City Hall. A search for criminals is underway and citizens are being evacuated from the building," Rosgvardia said.

Citing Moscow's children's ombudsman, Russian state-owned news agency RIA reported on Friday that children were among those injured in the attack on a concert hall outside Moscow.

Officials said at least 40 people had been killed and more than 100 injured, according to Russian security authorities.

Dmitry Medvedev, a former Russian president and currently deputy chairman of Russia's Security Council, said Russia would destroy Ukraine's leadership if it is found to be linked to an attack on a concert hall in Moscow.

"If it is established that these are terrorists of the Kyiv regime ... all of them must be found and ruthlessly destroyed as terrorists," Medvedev said in a post on Telegram.

He said that "official representatives of the state that committed such a crime" would be punished.

Medvedev offered no evidence to support the idea Ukraine was involved in the attack. 

Ukrainian officials have said they had no part in the attack. 

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Russian President Vladimir Putin is receiving regular updates on the shooting, explosions and ensuing fire at Crocus City Hall in Moscow.

Peskov said Putin had given all necessary instructions in connection with the incident. 

"The President is constantly being informed by all relevant services about what is happening and the measures being taken," Peskov said.