At least 60 people were killed and hundreds more injured in a shooting rampage at a concert hall in the Russian capital Moscow. The concert hall caught fire in the attack. The Islamic State (IS) militant group has claimed responsibility for the attack. AFP reports.

It is reported that the attackers entered the concert building wearing camouflage uniforms and started shooting. They also threw grenades and firebombs. Journalists from the RIA Novosti news agency reported this information.

The fire spread very quickly in the attack at the Crocus City concert hall in the Krasnogorsk region, a northern suburb of Moscow, and the entire building was covered in smoke. Visitors screamed and ran for the emergency exit doors.

A music producer named Alexei said that he heard gunshots and many people screaming shortly before the rock concert was to start. “I understood that the attack was being carried out with automatic rifle fire and the worst thing was that it was a terrorist attack,” he said.

“Everyone was rushing towards the emergency exits and it was very crowded. People were even trying to get out over each other’s heads,” Alexei said.

Russia’s FSB security service said 60 people had been killed and hundreds more were injured.

Health Minister Mikhail Murashko said 115 people had been taken to hospital, including five children, one of whom was in critical condition. Of the 110 adults, 60 were in serious condition.

Authorities said they had opened an investigation into the terrorist attack and that President Vladimir Putin was being briefed on the latest developments, presidential spokesman Dmitry Peskov told RIA Novosti.

Russia’s National Guard said it was at the scene and was conducting a search operation to find the perpetrators. Since the incident, police have been seen conducting searches with dogs that can identify criminals by sniffing out their scent.