Moscow concert hall attack latest: ISIS claims responsibility for shooting that killed at least 40 people

The exact number of casualties is still unknown, though the attack at the Crocus City Hall venue, near to Moscow, may be one of the deadliest in decades.

During the Beslan school siege of 2004, in southern Russia, more than 330 people were killed after Chechen militants took more than 1,000 people hostage.

Two years earlier, militants seized a crowded Moscow theater in 2002. More than 100 hostages died in the standoff, after Russian special forces pumped an aerosol version of fentanyl into the theater in an attempt to incapacitate the gunmen.

At least 115 people have been hospitalised from the attack on the Moscow concert hall, including five children, according to the Russian minister of health, Mikhail Murashko, per The New York Times.

Another 30 were treated and released, the outlet reported. The injured include 60 adult patients in serious condition, the minister said.

Multiple people have been killed and many more wounded after several gunman opened fire at a concert hall near to Moscow.

The state Tassnews agency reported that the shooting occurred at the Crocus City Hall, a huge concert hall on the western edge of the Russian capital.

Several other Russian media outlets reported the shooting and said that the mall was on fire. Video circulated on social media appeared to confirm the reports.

Russian foreign ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said: “The entire world community is obliged to condemn this monstrous crime. All efforts are being thrown at saving people.

“On what basis do officials in Washington draw any conclusions in the midst of a tragedy about someone’s innocence?”

White House spokesman John Kirby had said there was no indication that Ukraine or Ukrainians were involved.

Mykhailo Podolyak, an adviser to Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky, denied any Ukraine involvement in the concert hall attack.

“Ukraine has never resorted to the use of terrorist methods,” he posted on X. “Everything in this war will be decided only on the battlefield.”

John Kirby, spokesman for the White House National Security Council, said he couldn’t yet speak about all the details but that “the images are just horrible. And just hard to watch.”

“Our thoughts are going to be with the victims of this terrible, terrible shooting attack,” Mr Kirby said. “There are some moms and dads and brothers and sisters and sons and daughters who haven’t gotten the news yet. This is going to be a tough day.”

The French Foreign Ministry said its thoughts were with the victims of the shooting and the Russian people.

The list of the Moscow Region ministry of health said there were 146 victims, Tass has reported.

The Islamic State’s telegram channel says the group has claimed responsibility for the attack.