US strongly condemns deadly terrorist attack in Russia, conveys deepest condolences

Moscow attack. Videograb of Moscow concert hall attack from from X

#US, #Russia, #MoscowTerroristAttack, #AntonyBlinken, #MoscowConcertHallAttack

Washington/IBNS-CMEDIA: The United States strongly condemned the terrorist attack at the Crocus City Hall concert venue near Moscow, expressing its condolences to the victims and their families, and said it stands in solidarity with the Russians in the face of this tragedy, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said on Saturday.

“The United States strongly condemns yesterday’s deadly terrorist attack in Moscow. We send our deepest condolences to the families and loved ones of those killed and all affected by this heinous crime. We condemn terrorism in all its forms and stand in solidarity with the people of Russia in grieving the loss of life from this horrific event,” Blinken said in a statement.

A shooting occurred on Friday evening in the Crocus City Hall concert venue in the city of Krasnogorsk, outside Moscow, followed by a massive fire.

A Sputnik correspondent who witnessed the attack reported that at least three men in camouflage had broken into the music hall, shooting people point-blank and throwing incendiary bombs.

The Russian Investigative Committee said the number of those killed in the terrorist attack had so far reached 133, according to the latest data while Margarita Simonyan, the editor-in-chief of RT and the Rossiya Segodnya media group, said the death toll had reached 143 people.

Eleven people were detained in connection with the attack, including four who were directly responsible, the FSB said.

All four were detained in the Russian region of Bryansk, which borders Ukraine, a few hours apart, the FSB added.