March 23, 2024: The Islamic State has claimed responsibility for the massive attack on concert hall in the Russian capital that left at least 40 people dead and over 100 wounded.

As per sources, a group of armed men stormed into Crocus City Hall concert venue in Moscow and opened fire and detonated explosives among the crowd on Friday.

The terror group took responsibility for the attack in a short statement published by ISIS affiliated news agency Amaq on Telegram on Friday. However, ISIS has not provided any evidence to support the claim.

115 people have been hospitalised, including five children, the Russian Health Ministry informed. 60 people are in a critically condition.

Moscow City Duma Chairman Alexey Shaposhnikov asked Moscow residents to donate blood to help treat victims, saying that "this is a matter of life and death for dozens of people”. Around 100 people were evacuated from the building by firefighters. Rescuers are still working to get people off the roof, according to the Main Directorate of the Ministry of Emergency Situations of the Russian Federation.

The United States collected intelligence in March that Islamic State-Khorasan, known as ISIS-K, the branch of the group based in Afghanistan, had been planning an attack on Moscow, according to officials. ISIS members have been active in Russia, a US official said.

After a period of relative quiet, the Islamic State has been trying to increase its external attacks, according to US counterterrorism officials. Most of those plots in Europe have been thwarted, prompting assessments that the group has diminished capabilities.

The attack on Friday in Moscow, followed by the one in Iran in January, could prompt a reassessment of its ability to strike outside its home territory.

Meanwhile, Regional Governor Andrey Vorobyov said everything was being done to save people in what is now the deadliest terror attack on Moscow in decades. A SWAT team was called to the area and more than 70 ambulance teams and doctors were assisting victims.