In Pictures

Moscow concert hall attack: Death toll rises to 133 with scores injured

Armed men stormed the Crocus City Hall near Moscow, shooting people and setting the building on fire.

A massive blaze is seen over the Crocus City Hall on the western edge of Moscow, Russia, Friday, March 22 — A massive blaze is seen over the Crocus City Hall on the western edge of Moscow, Russia, Friday. Several gunmen have burst into a big concert hall in Moscow and fired automatic weapons at the crowd, injuring an unspecified number of people and setting a massive blaze in an apparent terror attack days after President Vladimir Putin cemented his grip on the country in a highly orchestrated electoral landlside. [Sergei Vedyashkin/Moscow News Agency via AP Photo]

Camouflage-clad gunmen with automatic weapons burst into a packed concert hall near Moscow, where the veteran rock band Picnic was to perform, shooting into the crowd and setting the building on fire.

The attack on the Crocus City Hall on Friday killed at least 133 people and injured more than 100. Russian authorities expected the number of casualties to rise.

The blaze ripped through the venue, with smoke filling the building and screaming visitors rushing to emergency exits.

The concert hall, one of the most popular in Moscow, can hold some 6,200 people.

Graphic videos posted on social media showed the gunmen firing repeated rounds as they entered the building, shooting at screaming people at point-blank range.

Helicopters were brought in to douse the flames from the air, as firefighters battled the flames from the ground. The fire was eventually brought under control early on Saturday.

The Emergency Situations Ministry said firefighters helped about 100 people escape through the building’s basement, while rescue operations were also launched for people trapped on the roof.

ISIS-K, an offshoot of ISIL (ISIS), the hardline group that once sought control over Iraq and Syria, claimed responsibility for the attack on its Telegram channel, saying the gunmen had escaped.

Russian investigators said on Saturday that 11 people had been detained so far.

A Russian Rosguardia (National Guard) servicemen secures an area as a massive blaze seen over the Crocus City Hall on the western edge of Moscow, Russia, Friday, March 22 — A Russian Rosguardia (national guard) serviceman secures an area as a massive blaze is seen over the Crocus City Hall. [AP Photo]

People stand next to the body of a killed person near the Crocus City Hall concert venue following a shooting incident, outside Moscow — People stand next to the body of a victim near the Crocus City Hall concert venue. [Yulia Morozova/Reuters]

People light candles in memory of the victims of the terrorist attack in Moscow, in the center of in the center of Simferopol, in Russian-held Crimea, Friday — People light candles in memory of the victims of the attack near Moscow, in the centre of Simferopol, in Russian-annexed Crimea. [AP Photo]

A view shows a screen with the message reading "We mourn" displayed in memory of victims of the shooting incident at a concert hall outside Moscow, in Saint Petersburg — A screen with a message that reads 'We mourn' displayed in memory of the victims, in Saint Petersburg. [Anton Vaganov/Reuters]

A view shows emergency services vehicles in front of the Crocus City Hall concert venue following Friday's deadly attack, outside Moscow — Emergency services vehicles in front of the Crocus City Hall. [Sergei Vedyashkin/Moscow News Agency via Reuters]

Members of the Investigative Committee of Russia work at the scene of the deadly shooting attack in Crocus City Hall, in Krasnogorsk, Moscow Region — Members of Russia's Investigative Committee work at the site of the attack. [Russian Investigative Committee via Reuters]

Bodies of victims are loaded into vehicles at the Crocus City Hall on the western edge of Moscow, Russia, Saturday, March 23 — The bodies of victims are loaded into vehicles. [AP Photo]

A person places flowers at a makeshift memorial in front of the Crocus City Hall, a day after a gun attack in Krasnogorsk, outside Moscow, on March 23 — A person places flowers at a makeshift memorial in front of the Crocus City Hall, in Krasnogorsk, outside Moscow. [Stringer/AFP]