ISIS attacks Moscow concert hall venue that left at least 60 killed.
Islamic State in Khorasan Province (ISIS-K) formed in eastern Afghanistan in late 2014 and rapidly gained a reputation for severe violence.
The organization has a history of strikes in and beyond Afghanistan, including assaults on Kabul’s international airport in 2021, a suicide bombing at the Russian embassy in Kabul in September 2022 and twin explosions in Iran earlier this year that killed almost 100 people.
The US’s top general in the Middle East warned earlier this year that ISIS-K has the potential to target US and Western objectives outside of Afghanistan “with little to no warning”
On Friday night, a daring attack on Moscow’s Crocus City Hall left at least 60 people dead and 145 wounded.
At least five camouflage-clad attackers with automatic guns stormed into the full concert venue, where the veteran rock band Picnic was scheduled to perform, firing into the crowd and setting off explosives.
A fire swiftly spread across the music hall, engulfing the auditorium with smoke and causing terrified people to run to the emergency escape.
ISIS took credit for the incident on its Telegram channel, claiming that its gunmen attacked and successfully fled from “a large gathering” on the outskirts of Moscow.
Ukraine’s presidency stated that Kyiv had “nothing to do” with the incident. The Freedom of Russia Legion is a pro-Ukrainian organization known for attacks on Russia’s borders likewise denied any involvement.
President Vladimir Putin is claimed to be getting “continuous” information from Russian officials who announced the launch of a “terrorist” inquiry.
