Terrorist attack at Moscow's Crocus City Hall: 40 killed, over 100 injured

Following the re-election of President Vladimir Putin, a terrorist attack occurred at the Crocus City Hall near Moscow on March 22. Five individuals, armed with automatic firearms and dressed in camouflage, attacked during a concert. The attack resulted in at least 40 fatalities and over 100 injured. The attack began during a performance by the musical group “Piknik,” leading to an evacuation.  is the approximate cost of the damage to the Crocus City Hall site.  Over $100 mn is the approximate cost of the damage to the Crocus City Hall site.

The Federal Security Service (FSB) of Russia confirmed the casualties and injuries and stated that measures are being taken to manage the situation. The identity and motivations of the attackers remain undisclosed, with initial investigations focusing on immediate humanitarian needs. Moscow’s emergency services dispatched approximately 70 ambulance teams in response.

“The president is constantly being informed by all relevant services about what is happening and the measures being taken,” Peskov stated.

Ukraine’s presidential aide, Mykhailo Podolyak, categorically denied any involvement of Ukraine in the incident. 

“Regarding the events in Crocus City in the Russian suburbs, where certain events took place today, some shooting, some terrorist actions by unidentified persons, let’s be clear, Ukraine absolutely has nothing to do with these events,” he said.

What led to the attack?

• A few weeks ago, the US embassy and other Western countries raised concerns about potential violent incidents in the lead-up to the Russian presidential elections. Russian security authorities criticised these warnings and accused the United States of backing militants and attempting to destabilise Russian territory.
• Before the elections in early March, Russian security forces made significant strides in thwarting terrorist threats. They arrested a terrorist cell planning an attack on a synagogue in Moscow. Concurrently, the Russian Federal Security Service (FSB) successfully neutralised a terrorist cell affiliated with the Islamic State in Ingushetia.
• The recent escalation of missile and drone attacks by Russian armed forces in the ongoing conflict in Ukraine raised speculation about potential connections to the terrorist attack in Moscow. However, as of now, no concrete evidence or sources emerged to confirm any linkages between the incident and the Kremlin’s actions in Ukraine. The possibility remains under scrutiny as part of ongoing investigations.

Dmitry Medvedev: “Terrorists understand only reciprocal terror. No trials or investigations will help if force is not answered with force, and deaths with total punishment of terrorists and repression of their families. That’s our worldly experience. If it can be established that these terrorists were from the Kyiv regime, it’s impossible to deal with them and those who have been inspired by their ideology any other way. They must all be located and ruthlessly destroyed as terrorists. Including official representatives of the state that committed such an atrocity.”

Office of the President of Ukraine: “Let’s get it on the record. Ukraine had absolutely nothing to do with these events.”

Shavkat Mirziyoyev expressed his condolences to Vladimir Putin over the tragedy that occurred at the Crocus City Hall in Moscow, resulting in the deaths of numerous innocent people and severely injured.

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