Russia says at least 40 killed in attack on Moscow concert hall

Multiple gunmen opened fire at a Moscow concert hall Friday, leaving at least 40 people dead and more than 100 people injured, Russia’s Federal Security Service said.

Video footage from the Crocus City Hall music venue near Moscow shows at least three gunmen dressed in camouflage clothing firing automatic weapons. The Associated Press reported that assailants also threw explosives, creating a large fire.

Fifty ambulance crews were sent to the scene, as well as police and firefighters, Reuters reported, citing Russian news agencies.

In one video posted on social media, gunmen were filmed shooting at civilians near the hall’s entrance sign. Other footage showed multiple people lying on the ground in a pool of blood. 

The AP reported the apparent terror attack was the worst in Russia in two decades. Russian authorities are investigating the attack.

Russian news reports said the attackers threw explosives during the attack, and the roof of the venue was collapsing, according to AP. 

The governor of the Moscow region, Andrei Vorobyov, is setting up a task force to deal with the damage, according to AP. 

White House spokesperson John Kirby said the footage is “hard to watch,” and he added there is no evidence that Ukrainians were involved in the attack. 

“The images are just horrible. Just hard to watch, and our thoughts obviously are going to be with the victims of this terrible, terrible shooting attack,” Kirby said Friday. “No indication at this time that Ukraine or Ukrainians were involved in the shooting.”

The shooting comes shortly after the U.S. Embassy in Russia put out a security alert earlier this month warning of “extremists” planning to attack Russia’s capital city. The warning came just hours after Russia’s Federal Security Service (FSS) said it quashed an attack on a synagogue in Moscow reportedly orchestrated by a militant Sunni Muslim group.

Updated: 3:40 p.m.