Multiple people have been killed after gunfire erupted at the Federal Security Service building in Moscow, Russia.
The Thursday shooting reportedly started when a group of three gunmen entered the FSB headquarters. The FSB is the successor to the USSR’s KGB. There are conflicting reports on casualty counts.
According to an initial briefing, the gunmen entered the headquarters and began firing automatic weapons as they approached guards. Two of the suspects were killed in an exchange, while the third ran into the street and continued to fire at officers.
Special forces were deployed to the scene of the shooting, which took place in a busy part of Moscow’s city center. The area was cordoned off for more than an hour.
The gunfire erupted after Russian President Vladimir Putin delivered his annual press conference. It also came on the eve of the country’s “Spy” day, a date marking the founding of the Cheka, the USSR’s secret police. Putin, who was attending a concert commemorating the holiday when the gunfire began, has been briefed on the shooting.
BREAKING: Heavy gunfire erupts near FSB building in central Moscow; reports of fatalities pic.twitter.com/nXWkTc7nZm
— BNO News (@BNONews) December 19, 2019
Первые кадры нападения с камер наблюдения на Лубянке. Паника у прохожих, водители бросают свои машины и убегают. Сотрудники полиции, прячась за машинами, подтягиваются к месту стрельбы. pic.twitter.com/ntjQk5YxSf
— baza (@bazabazon) December 19, 2019
В районе места происшествия на Лубянке сейчас так. Видео: Дмитрий Швец / Медиазона https://t.co/Ffr67rwQPh pic.twitter.com/F6UPOqM977
— Медиазона (@mediazzzona) December 19, 2019
This story is breaking and will be updated.
