At least four armed gunmen stormed the Crocus City Hall concert venue in northwest Moscow during evening hours on 22 March 2024. They began shooting indiscriminately and lit the building on fire. Russia's Federal Security Service (FSB) said that at least 40 people were killed and more than 100 injured in the attack. No group has yet claimed responsibility, though the FSB reportedly foiled a planned attack on a synagogue by a cell of Islamic State, raising the possibility that the group could be behind this newest attack.
Situation Report
- A manhunt is now underway after police say the gunmen escaped in the chaos of the attack.
- Shopping centers in Moscow and St. Petersburg are being evacuated as a precaution.
- Armed police are being deployed across Moscow to conduct stops at railway and metro stations. Security is being bolstered at local airports.
- Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin announced that all public events in the city were canceled through at least 24 March following the attack.
- The Crocus City Hall building has partially collapsed due to the fires.
Analysis
- The attack came after the U.S. Embassy in Russia implicitly warned of an impending terrorist attack on 07 March 2024.
- Initial reports may have downplayed the scope of this terror attack, and we expect our understanding of the situation to evolve over the next 12-24 hours.
- The FSB reportedly neutralized an Islamic State cell operating in Moscow on 07 March, leaving open the possibility that this latest attack is a continuation of that Islamic State cell's activities.
- Anticipate disruptions in Moscow over the next 48 hours.
Recommendations
- Follow guidance from local authorities.
- Shelter in place as required.
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