What We're Watching

Mass shooting in Moscow leaves at least 60 dead

Vehicles of Russian emergency services are parked near the burning Crocus City Hall concert venue following a reported shooting incident, outside Moscow, Russia, March 22, 2024.
Vehicles of Russian emergency services are parked near the burning Crocus City Hall concert venue following a reported shooting incident, outside Moscow, Russia, March 22, 2024.
REUTERS

At least 40 people are dead and scores are injured following an attack at a concert hall late Friday in Krasnogorsk, a northwest suburb of Moscow, one of the capital’s biggest music venues. Emergency personnel helped more than 100 others evacuate the building.

The Islamic State group has claimed responsibility for the attack, but Russian authorities have not yet commented on the claim. Videos show multiple gunmen on the scene, with fans who were awaiting a performance by the rock band Piknik heard screaming amid the gunfire. State media reported that there was an explosion just before 10 p.m. local time, and part of the roof near the stage collapsed, with more than a third of the building on fire.

As a precaution in case of twin terror attacks, large venues in other parts of the country were also evacuated, and Russia's national guard is reportedly still looking for the gunmen.

Earlier this month, the US Embassy in Russia warned its staffers about reports of extremists who were planning to target large venues, including concerts, around Moscow. The warning was scorned by President Vladimir Putin, who referred to it as “obvious blackmail” intended to “intimidate and destabilize our society.”

There has been a recent uptick in Russian attacks against Ukraine, and the White House was quick to point out Friday that there is “no indication at this time that Ukraine, or Ukrainians, were involved in the shooting.”

More For You

Natalie Johnson

Israel’s right-wing government has overseen a record expansion of settlements in the West Bank in recent years. The settlements, which are illegal under international law, are driving the displacement of Palestinians. One proposal the government is now advancing is the controversial E1 settlement plan, which would effectively slice the West Bank in two and severely undermine Palestinian aspirations for a contiguous state.

Natalie Johnson

More than 70% of the earth’s surface is covered in good old H2O, so it would seem there’s plenty to go around. But the vast majority, at least 97%, is contained in the oceans as saltwater. The growing scarcity of freshwater for drinking, cooking, industrial, and agricultural uses is quickly moving water up as a global risk. In fact, our parent company, Eurasia Group, added it to its Top Risks list for 2026 as “The water weapon.”