TheCable

At least, 40 people have been killed and over 100 injured in a shooting at the Crocus City Hall shopping mall and concert complex, northwest of Moscow, the Russian capital.

Russia’s Federal Security Service said the attack happened on Friday.

Witnesses told RIA, state media, that a few minutes before the concert by Picnic, the rock band, which was supposed to start at 8pm Russian time, three men in camouflage and without masks broke into the hall and started shooting people at point-blank range.

The witnesses said the men set the hall on fire afterwards. Reports said the assailants threw explosives, triggering the massive blaze.

Videos posted on social media showed thick plumes of black smoke rising over the building, which is said to have over a 6,000-seating capacity.

The death toll is expected to rise.

“Fire and rescue units are operating … Their main efforts are aimed at search and rescue,” the ministry of emergency situations said.

“Firefighters evacuated about 100 people from the basement of the building. Work is underway to rescue others from the roof using lifts.”

The Russian government has labelled the incident a “terrorist attack”. The shooting is the deadliest in Russia in recent years.

It also comes days after Putin tightened his grip on the country he has ruled since the turn of the century by winning the presidential election.