Russia said on Saturday it had arrested 11 people including four suspected gunmen in connection with a shooting rampage that killed 143 people in a concert hall near Moscow, the deadliest attack in Russia for 20 years.

 

The deadliest terror attack on Moscow in decades, Friday’s assault came less than a week after President Vladimir Putin won a stage-managed election by an overwhelming majority to secure another term in office, tightening his grip on the country he has ruled since the turn of the century.

 

State-run RIA Novosti reported the armed individuals “opened fire with automatic weapons” and “threw a grenade or an incendiary bomb, which started a fire.” They then “allegedly fled in a white Renault car,” the news agency said.

 

State media Russia 24 reported the roof of the venue has partially collapsed.

 

The fire had been brought largely under control more than six hours later. “There are still some pockets of fire, but the fire has been mostly eliminated,” Moscow governor Andrey Vorobyov said on Telegram.

 

The carnage broke out before a concert by the band Picnic, according to Russia 24.

 

With attention focused on the country’s war with neighboring Ukraine, Putin had trumpeted a message of national security before Russians went to the polls.

 

Police have arrested 11 suspects - including all four gunmen directly involved in carrying out the deadly attack - following a "car chase" in Russia's Bryansk region.

 

Russian security agency said the attackers had contacts in Ukraine and were driving to the border. "After committing the terrorist attack, the criminals intended to cross the Russian-Ukrainian border, and had appropriate contacts on the Ukrainian side," the FSB said.

 

Ukraine's presidency said Kyiv had "nothing to do" with the attack, while its military intelligence called the incident a Russian "provocation" and charged that Moscow special services were behind it.

 

Meanwhile CNN has reported that ISIS has claimed responsibility for the attack. In a short statement published by ISIS-affiliated news agency Amaq on Telegram on Friday, the Islamic State group claimed responsibility for the attack, saying its fighters attacked "a large gathering" on Moscow's outskirts and "retreated to their bases safely".

 

However, it did not provide evidence to support the claim.

 

Video footage from the Crocus City Hall shows the vast complex, which is home to both the music hall and a shopping center, on fire with smoke billowing into the air. 

 

“Unidentified people in camouflage broke into Crocus City Hall and started shooting before the start of the concert,” the Prosecutor General’s Office said, cited by TASS.

 

Attackers dressed in camouflage uniforms entered the building, opened fire and threw grenades or incendiary bombs. Videos showed images of flames and black smoke pouring from the hall. 

 

Three helicopters were involved in efforts to put out the fire, dumping water on the giant concert hall that can hold several thousand people and has hosted top international artists.

 

Scores of people hid behind seats in the hall or rushed towards entrances to the basement or roof to escape the bullets. Shortly after midnight, the emergencies ministry said the fire had been contained, said local media reports citing sources.

 

Russian President Vladimir Putin wished a speedy recovery to the inured. "The president wished everyone a speedy recovery and conveyed his gratitude to the doctors," deputy prime minister Tatyana Golikova was quoted as saying by Russian news agencies.

 

The European Union, France, Spain and Italy joined several countries in condemning the attack. The US called the attack "terrible" and said there was no immediate sign of any link to the conflict in Ukraine.

 

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince and Prime Minister His Royal Highness Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, both denounced the terror attack in Moscow. 

 

"We strongly condemn the heinous terrorist attack in Moscow. Our thoughts and prayers are with the families of the victims. India stands in solidarity with the government and the people of the Russian Federation in this hour of grief," PM Modi posted on X - earlier known as Twitter. 

 

French President Emmanuel Macron also condemned the attack. “France expresses its solidarity with the victims, their loved ones and all the Russian people,” the Elysee Palace said, AFP and Reuters reported.