(Photo : STRINGER/AFP via Getty Images)
The Islamic State (ISIS) has claimed responsibility for the shooting attack at Crocus City Hall, west of Moscow Friday night, local time (Mar. 22) that killed at least 40 people, including children, and injured at least 130.
It was previously reported that the shooting occurred during the concert of the Russian rock band Picnic and that the venue was said to be 70% full.
The particular group that claimed responsibility for the attack was the Islamic State's Khorasan Province (ISIS K), an Afghanistan-based faction of the terrorist group.
ISIS K's brief statement was published by ISIS-affiliated news agency Amaq on Telegram, but fell short of providing evidence to support the claim.
An unnamed US official told CBS News that Washington provided intelligence to the Kremlin about a potential attack under the Duty to Warn requirement, a non-binding obligation of American spy agencies to alert the intended targets if they learn of planned attacks.
One report claims that the group attacked a group of "Christians" that was gathering for the concert, which was the justification behind the attack, but this information has not been confirmed.
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According to the Kremlin, Russian President Vladimir Putin was informed about the attack and is being kept updated on measures on the ground, CNN reported.
On the other hand, Ukrainian authorities denied that they were behind the shooting despite being at war with Russia.
"Ukraine has never resorted to the use of terrorist methods," Ukrainian presidential adviser Mykhailo Podolyak wrote on X, formerly Twitter, adding that he believed Russia would use the attack to justify the ongoing conflict and scale up operations as part of "military propaganda" in Ukraine.
Meanwhile, a representative for United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres also condemned the attack "in the strongest possible terms."
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