More than 60 people have been killed
Islamic State group claims responsibility for attack
US warned Russia about 'planned terrorist' strike
Preliminary data show that more than 60 people died as a result of a terrorist attack in the Crocus City Hall in the Moscow Region on Friday, the Russian Investigative Committee said in a statement on Telegram.
"The bodies of the dead are being examined. It has been preliminarily established that more than 60 people died as a result of the terrorist attack. Unfortunately, the number of victims may increase,” the committee said.
Health Minister Mikhail Murashko said a total of 115 people, including five children, have been hospitalised.
"As of now, 115 people have been injured in the terrorist attack, we have hospitalised them, five of them are children, one child is in serious condition, of 110 adults, 60 patients are in serious condition," Murashko said on the Rossiya 24 TV channel.
A shooting occurred on Friday in the Crocus City Hall concert venue just outside Moscow followed by a massive fire. According to preliminary data, several armed men opened fire inside the venue. Emergency and security services are responding on the scene. Russia's Investigative Committee opened a criminal case into the terrorist attack.
The committee said material evidence, including weapons and ammunition, is being confiscated from the crime scene in the Crocus City Hall near Moscow, examinations are being carried out, and camera recordings are being studied.
'Islamic State' claims responsibility for concert hall attack
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."
US had warned Russia about potential attack, White House says
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.
