Moscow concert hall attack: Islamic State claims responsibility as manhunt under way after dozens died – latest updates | Moscow concert hall attack

The death toll has risen to 62, Russia’s Baza news outlet has reported based on preliminary information. The Guardian has not confirmed the number and will be watching for updates from the health ministry.

Russia’s president Vladimir Putin has yet to make a public comment on the attacks. The Kremlin has said he is receiving regular updates.

UN secretary general condemns attack in ‘strongest possible terms’

As the Russian national guard continues to secure the area, Russians have begun to mourn those who died in the attack.

People at the concert describe a chaotic scene as the attack began.

Alexei, a music producer, told AFP he had been about to settle into his seat before the concert, when he heard “several machine gun bursts” and “a lot of screams”.

“I realised right away that it was automatic gunfire and understood that most likely it’s the worst: a terrorist attack,” he said.

Another witness told Reuters that a stampede began as everyone rushed away from the gunfire. “A stampede began. Everyone ran to the escalator,” the witness said. “Everyone was screaming, everyone was running.”

CNN’s chief national security correspondent writes that sources have revealed that there may have been specific intelligence indicating an imminent attack.

Isis-K refers to the Islamic State of Khorasan Province, active in south-central Asia.The Islamic State appears to have taken credit for the attack via a Telegram post.

145 people injured in attack, says Moscow health ministry

At least two children have been wounded in the attack at the Crocus City Hall, according to Russia’s commissioner for children’s rights, Maria Lvova-Belova.

Lvova-Belova, in an interview aired by Russia’s state-owned Rossiya-24 channel, said:

There are wounded children, not many of them so far. There is a boy with a gunshot wound, but all are in a moderately grave condition so far … There is a boy who was struck with the buttstock of a rifle, in a stable condition.

The Russian national guard have completed an inspection of the parking lots around the Crocus City Hall and have found no explosives, a Russian MP has said.

In a Telegram post, lawmaker Alexander Khinshtein added that members of the national guard are continuing their checks of the surrounding area.

The European Union is “shocked and appalled” by the reports of a terrorist attack in the Crocus City Hall, the bloc’s lead foreign affairs spokesperson Peter Stano has said.

Posting to social media, Stano said the EU “condemns any attacks against civilians”.

The British embassy in Russia has said it condemns the attack at the Crocus City Hall, calling it a “terrible tragedy” and adding:

We express our sincere condolences to the families and friends of those affected and killed by today’s events.