bullimore yachtsman

Tony Bullimore: British sailor who survived four days under a capsized yacht in the Southern Ocean dies aged 79

British sailor Tony Bullimore, whose rescue by the Australian Navy made international headlines in 1997, has died at the age of 79.

The BBC and ITV News reported that the veteran yachtsman died after being diagnosed with cancer.

In 1997 Mr Bullimore was saved by the Australian Navy after being stranded in the Southern Ocean for four days when his yacht capsized.

He had been taking part in the Vendée Globe single-handed race and used an emergency beacon to attract attention 2,500 kilometres away from the Australian coast.

Images of Mr Bullimore being rescued were big news across the world, and in footage of the rescue he was seen kissing his rescuers on the cheek.

Mr Bullimore's yacht, the Exide Challenger, capsized in winds of up to 160 kilometres per hour.

He was feared to have drowned, but told rescuers he survived by sheltering inside the upturned boat's hull and eating chocolate bars.

Last year, for the 20th anniversary since his rescue, Mr Bullimore spoke to the ABC about the experience.

"[I was thinking], how am I going to be rescued? From then on in you start to relax and say well, this is it," he said.

"You think about your life in the past.

"I'd been married for a good many years, and [I was thinking about] my family, my friends, what I've done, what I haven't done, what I wanted to do — that kind of thing."

Mr Bullimore's ordeal earned him a meeting with the Queen, who reportedly praised his "extraordinary feat of survival".

But in Australia there was backlash about spending $6 million in taxpayers' money for the rescue of a lone sailor who knew the risks of what he was doing.

Undeterred by the near-death experience, Mr Bullimore again attempted to sail solo around the world in 2006, but had to abandon the attempt a few hundred nautical miles west of New Zealand .

Off the water, Mr Bullimore was a former Royal Marine, a successful businessman and a renowned philanthropist.

He founded a nightclub in the English city of Bristol which reportedly hosted concerts by Bob Marley, Tina Turner and Ben E King, among others.

In a 2016 documentary made by BBC Radio Bristol, one friend described him as "generous and humble".

Bristol's Lord Mayor Cleo Lake paid tribute to Mr Bullimore, whom she called "a Bristol legend both on the waters and on the music scene".

Mr Bullimore was still racing on the water at the age of 78 last year .

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British sailor Tony Bullimore dies

British sailor tony bullimore, who was rescued in the southern ocean by the australian navy, has died at the age of 79..

British yachtsman Tony Bullimore prepares to sail out of the Derwent River. Source: AAP

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Tony Bullimore, British Yachtsman who survived in tiny air pocket in capsized yacht for days in 1996 round the world race, dies from cancer aged 79

A British sailor and entrepreneur has died at the age of 79 from a rare cancer, according to reports.

Tony Bullimore survived for several days in the upturned hull of his boat which capsized when he was racing solo around the world in 1996, making national headlines.

He had been taking part in the Vendee Globe single-handed around-the-world race in his boat, the Exide Challenger, and was 2,200km off the coast of Australia .

Rescuers from the Australian navy pulled him from the Southern Ocean after he had been stranded for four days.

His impressive survival earned him the nick-name bulldog.

The Queen praised the sailor’s "extraordinary feat of survival" before later meeting him in person.

Mr Bullimore was married to Lalel Bullimore and moved to Bristol in the 1960s where he opened a music venue called the Bamboo Club in 1966 which hosted many famous names including Bob Marley.

Ben E King and the Wailers also played at the venue before it closed 11 years after opening because of a fire.

Bristol's Lord Mayor Cleo Lake paid tribute to Mr Bullimore on Twitter.

She wrote: "A Bristol legend both on the waters and on the music scene. Everything you did to break down racial barriers. Sleep well Tony Bullimore and thank you".

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'I owe Australia my life': Tony Bullimore reflects on miracle at sea

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14 January 1997: Tony Bullimore gets back to dry land

I was competing in the Vendee Globe, deep in the Southern Ocean when I got caught up in a major storm - winds gusting at over 100mph, and mountainous seas. I'd been running in this weather for about 12 hours, as it got worse and worse, and then there was an almighty crack, the keel snapped off, and the boat instantly capsized. It took a couple of seconds from start to finish.

To start off with the boat was dry, but the boom was floating around under the boat and when it smashed one of the big windows the water flooded in. From that moment the temperatures went down incredibly. In those conditions, if you don't know what you're doing you'd be dead in five or 10 minutes.

I didn't think I would be rescued. The nearest land mass was Antarctica, about 700 land miles south, but you wouldn't get rescued by anyone from there. Australia was my only hope, but it was 2,500km away. I had something called an Epirb, a distress radio beacon, which I set off. The signal was picked up by Falmouth coastguards. They informed the Australian rescue services, and they put together a plan pick me up.

I was stuck on the boat for five days. I suffered from dehydration, frostbite, I had one of my fingers chopped off. You're only interested in survival. After three or four days I'd come to the conclusion that I wasn't going to be rescued, but you can't just give up.

The Australians eventually tracked me down. I remember hearing a noise. I put my ear to the side of the boat and heard people shouting in English. I shouted back: "I'm here, I'm coming out." I swam down, clear of the ropes, and out of the boat. When I surfaced there was an almighty cheer from the ship. They were just glad it hadn't been a wasted journey.

They lifted me up to deck, and took me down to the sickbay. I was there for an hour or so while they were dabbing at my feet, which were black and blue with frostbite. My hands weren't good, and my face wasn't so good at the time. Then the captain came down. "If there's anything you want, let me know," he said. "What I'd like," I said, "is a mug of tea and a cigarette." He said the tea's no problem, but there's no smoking below deck. A while later I was taken to another room. A steward came in with a tray, and on it was a pot of tea and a box of matches, with a note from the captain saying, "On this special occasion I'll allow you to smoke in this room."

My feet haven't been right since. I can walk on them, but they feel different to how they did before. And every time I look down at my left hand, I look at my missing finger and start thinking back. I had five days to think about my life and what I'm doing here. But it didn't put me off sailing. Since then I've been round the world three times, I've broken records. I've actually passed not far away from where it happened. I sat on the boat looking out, over the same seas. Every now and then, you realise how fortunate you are to be here.

Then what happened

Now 70, Bullimore is aiming to break the round Antarctica sailing record at the end of this year.

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British sailor Tony Bullimore dies aged 79

Rough times for the old men of the sea, 'missing' yachtsman finally phones his wife, new alert over yachtsman bullimore, ten years on, fears that bullimore is lost at sea again, what happened next, close to the wind, bullimore sails into trouble, most viewed.

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Australia Rescues Sailors, But Is Wincing at the Costs

By Clyde H. Farnsworth

• Jan. 11, 1997

Tony Bullimore, a British yachtsman entombed in his capsized sailboat in frigid waters between Australia and Antarctica, took a deep breath when he heard a heavy banging on the upturned hull and a voice outside.

Then he dived from the makeshift net hammock he had lashed to the inverted deck to keep himself above water in an air pocket and witnessed the miracle he had dared not hope for over the 80 hours since his keel broke in a storm in the Southern Ocean.

An Australian Navy frigate had pulled alongside. An Orion P-3 search plane circled overhead and a couple of Australian sailors in wetsuits on a life raft were peering over the battered hull of his 66-foot ketch.

''It was heaven, absolute heaven,'' the 56-year-old sailor said on Thursday in the frigate's sick bay, where he was recovering from hypothermia, dehydration, frostbite and a severed finger.

The Australian Navy and the Australian Air Force had already been responsible for the rescue of two other sailors, both Frenchmen, from the raging seas nearby. They too had foundered as they sailed in the Vendee Globe Challenge, a solo, nonstop round-the-world yacht race.

Accounts of the rescues have captured headlines here and in Europe and even earned Australia some diplomatic benefits. Australian Foreign Ministry officials expressed surprise and delight at what they described as effusive praise by the French President, Jacques Chirac, for the Australian efforts to save sailors in the French-organized race. The gesture came after months of strain between the two countries over French nuclear testing. Australia had been a leading critic of France's six nuclear blasts in French Polynesia from September 1995 to last January.

Yet despite the diplomatic dividends, the mounting cost of sea rescues is a growing Australian concern. The opposition Labor Party wants organizers of yacht races to help foot the bills, which in the last two weeks alone have approached $200,000.

While also worried about the costs, Government officials insist they have both a moral and legal obligation to help those in distress. ''Whether it's bush fires or cyclones at sea, we just go out and do those things,'' said the Defense Minister, Ian McLachlan.

Yet the Government is hoping to work with France on ways to get sponsors of the Vendee Globe and other international yacht races to enforce stricter boat design standards and restrict routes to less dangerous waters than the Screaming Fifties. Those are the far-south latitudes that are the quickest way to sail from the Cape of Good Hope to the Pacific but that are also the home of some of world's stormiest weather and wildest seas.

''Without a review of race routes, Australia could be required to undertake more than its fair share of costly, time-consuming rescue missions,'' said the Minister for Sport, Warwick Smith.

The three stricken yachtsmen -- Mr. Bullimore and the two Frenchmen, Thierry Dubois and Raphael Dinelli, all wearing immersion suits of thermal fabric and waterproof material -- were among 17 sailors who left France last Nov. 3.

Hit by the same storm, Mr. Dubois and Mr. Bullimore, sailing only 30 miles apart, both set off emergency beacons last Sunday. Mr. Dubois, whose yacht also capsized, was rescued on Thursday by an air force helicopter.

Mr. Dinelli sent distress signals on Christmas Day and reached a raft tossed to him by an Air Force Orion only 10 minutes before his boat sank. The Orion radioed Peter Goss, a British competitor, to try to reach Mr. Dinelli. Mr. Goss succeeded and the two sailed into Hobart, Tasmania, early Wednesday.

Within 24 hours, Mr. Goss returned to his solo voyage. ''I am very happy in myself,'' he told reporters before hoisting sail. ''I have got lots of tea bags. I'll just go and do it now.''

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Miracle at Sea: The Rescue of Tony Bullimore

This is a suspenseful part re-enactment, part original footage of the sea rescue of the late Tony Bullimore from his upturned sailing yacht (The Exide Challenger) during the Vendee-Globe sol... Read all This is a suspenseful part re-enactment, part original footage of the sea rescue of the late Tony Bullimore from his upturned sailing yacht (The Exide Challenger) during the Vendee-Globe solo round the world yacht race. Bullimore had been trapped for four days in the upturned hul... Read all This is a suspenseful part re-enactment, part original footage of the sea rescue of the late Tony Bullimore from his upturned sailing yacht (The Exide Challenger) during the Vendee-Globe solo round the world yacht race. Bullimore had been trapped for four days in the upturned hull of his 18 m yacht when the Royal Australian Navy located the yacht, not knowing if Bulli... Read all

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• 1998 (United Kingdom)
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Moscow concert attack: More than 60 reported dead; ISIS claims responsibility

This live blog has ended. For the most recent updates, please click here .

What we know about the Moscow concert attack

• Men in camouflage broke into a Moscow concert hall and opened fire, shooting an unknown number of people, Russia’s prosecutor general said.
• The terror group ISIS has claimed responsibility but did not provide proof of the claim, which was made on ISIS-affiliated news agency Amaq on Telegram.
• Russia's Investigative Committee said that more than 60 people are dead after the attack at Crocus City Hall. Officials have said more than 100 others were injured.
• A fire also started inside Crocus City Hall, a large concert venue northwest of central Moscow. Firefighters have evacuated about 100 people from the basement of the building and efforts are underway to rescue people from the roof, Russian emergency officials said.
• Russia officials said they were investigating the attack as a terrorist act.
• A popular rock band was scheduled to play what appeared to be a sold-out show at the venue, which has a maximum capacity of more than 9,000 people.

Three children among those killed, state media reports

Chantal Da Silva

Three children were among the more than 60 people killed in yesterday's attack at Crocus City Hall, Russian news agency RIA Novosti reported, citing the Russian Ministry of Health.

Officials have warned that the death toll connected to the deadly incident may increase as the investigation continues.

Xi sends condolences to Putin

Chinese President Xi Jinping sent condolences to Russian President Vladimir Putin on Saturday after a deadly shooting at a concert hall near Moscow, saying China opposes all forms of terrorism and strongly condemns terrorist attacks.

China firmly supports the Russian government’s efforts to maintain national security and stability, Xi said, according to CCTV state television. 

Moscow bloodshed comes two decades after some of worst attacks in Russia

Phil Helsel

The shooting attacks in Moscow are the latest in a series of deadly terror attacks in the country since the 2000s.

In 2004, militants from Chechnya and elsewhere took hostages at a school in Beslan in southern Russia.

The militants demanded a withdrawal from Chechnya. Hostages were kept in a gymnasium, and 334 died — half of them children — when gunfire and explosions erupted when it was stormed. Hostages’ families were critical of the rescue operation. Russian prosecutors later cleared authorities .

Two years prior, in 2002, Chechen separatists attacked the Dubrovka Theater in Moscow and took more than 700 people hostage. Russian forces used gas, and 129 hostages died. The attackers were killed.

More recently, in 2017 a suicide bomber from Kyrgyzstan killed 15 people as well as himself in an attack on a St. Petersburg subway. In 2013, two bombers killed a combined 34 people in attacks on a railway station and a trolleybus in Volgograd.

The group Islamic State, also known as ISIS, claimed responsibility for the attacks Friday at the Crocus City Hall venue.

Putin wishes victims well, deputy prime minister says

President Vladimir Putin is thinking of those injured in today’s attack and thanked doctors, a Russian government official said according to state media.

State media TASS reported that “Putin wished all those injured in the emergency at Crocus City Hall to recover and conveyed his gratitude to the doctors, Golikova said,” referring to Tatiana Golikova deputy prime minister for social policy, labor, health and pension provision.

More than 60 dead, and death toll could grow, Russian agency says

Russia’s Investigative Committee said Saturday that more than 60 people have died in the attack, and warned the number may increase.

“The bodies of the dead are being examined. It has been previously established that more than 60 people died as a result of the terrorist attack. Unfortunately, the number of victims may increase,” according to the Investigative Committee, which is a federal state agency.

Russia's Ministry of Internal Affairs and the security agency FSB are continuing to investigate, the committee said in a statement, and weapons and ammunition have been found.

U.S. warned Russia about planned terrorist attack in Moscow, NSC says

Monica Alba

The United States shared information about a potential terrorist attack in Moscow with Russia’s government earlier this month, a spokesperson for the National Security Council said.

The U.S. Embassy in Russia on March 7 warned U.S. citizens to avoid crowds and said it was monitoring reports that extremists might attack large gatherings in Moscow.

“Earlier this month, the U.S. Government had information about a planned terrorist attack in Moscow — potentially targeting large gatherings, to include concerts — which prompted the State Department to issue a public advisory to Americans in Russia,” NSC spokesperson Adrienne Watson said.

“The U.S. Government also shared this information with Russian authorities in accordance with its longstanding ‘duty to warn’ policy,” Watson said.

Putin recently dismissed ‘provocative’ warning about potential attacks

In remarks that aired three days ago, Russian President Vladimir Putin accused the West of “provocative statements” about potential terror attacks in Russia, and dismissed them.

“I’ll remind you of recent, let’s say directly, provocative statements of certain official Western structures about potential terror attacks in Russia,” Putin said.

“All of this looks like obvious blackmail and an attempt to intimidate, destabilize our country,” he said before the state security agency FSB.

Putin in those remarks did not specify a country or warning. The U.S. embassy in Russia on March 7 warned U.S. citizens to avoid crowds .

“The Embassy is monitoring reports that extremists have imminent plans to target large gatherings in Moscow, to include concerts, and U.S. citizens should be advised to avoid large gatherings over the next 48 hours,” the U.S. embassy warned.

Guards at concert hall didn't have guns, state news says

The Associated Press

Guards at the concert hall didn’t have guns, and some could have been killed at the start of the attack, Russian media reported.

Some Russian news outlets suggested the assailants fled before special forces and riot police arrived.

Reports said police patrols were looking for several vehicles the attackers could have used to escape.

U.S. had been gathering intelligence that ISIS could attack Russia

Ken Dilanian

The U.S. had been gathering intelligence for months that ISIS could mount a mass casualty attack in Russia, two U.S. officials confirmed to NBC News.

That information led to a March 7 warning issued by the U.S. embassy in Russia about possible extremist attacks, including at concerts, urging people to stay away from large gatherings, one of the officials said.

That official said the claim of responsibility today by ISIS appears to be genuine, though no final assessment had been made about who was responsible.

Some Moscow concertgoers filmed events as they unfolded Friday night, when gunmen opened fire inside a theater and people ran to take cover in fear for their lives.

Witness says gunfire was first thought to be construction noise

A witness to today’s armed attack on Moscow’s Crocus City Hall told a state news agency that they first mistook the gunfire for sounds of an installation being dismantled.

“First, we started hearing typical loud pops, but it was impossible to understand that they were gunshots. We thought that something was falling, as exhibitions were being dismantled at that moment, and someone seemed to be dropping something large,” Mikhail Semyonov told TASS .

“Then, the bangs were getting more and more frequent. Suddenly, there was a scream, and the bangs started to be heard as bursts. Then it became clear that it was shooting,” he said.

ISIS claims responsibility for attack but does not provide proof

The terror group Islamic State has claimed responsibility for the attack in Moscow.

The group, also known as ISIS, did not provide any proof of its claim, which came from ISIS-affiliated news agency Amaq on Telegram.

The group’s members have carried out a number of terror attacks, including the 2015 attacks in Paris that killed 130 people.

Children among the victims, Russia's children commissioner says

Yuliya Talmazan

Russia’s commissioner for children’s rights, Maria Lvova-Belova, said children were among the victims of tonight's attack.

"Information about their condition is regularly updated," Lvova-Belova said on Telegram. "Any additional assistance will be provided immediately."

She later told Russia 24 TV channel that at least two children had been injured, including one boy with a gunshot wound.

Earlier, Russian officials released a preliminary casualty toll of at least 40 people dead and more than 100 injured.

France, U.K., Germany condemn attack

Officials from France, the U.K. and Germany were among those who expressed their condolences to the victims of the attack at the Crocus concert hall.

"The images of the terrible attack on innocent people in Crocus City Hall near #Moscow are horrific," Germany's Foreign Office said on X . "The background must be investigated quickly. Our deepest condolences with the families of the victims."

"We condemn the terrorist attack in the Crocus City Hall near Moscow," the U.K.'s embassy in Russia said . "This is a terrible tragedy."

Meanwhile, France's foreign ministry called for "full light" to be shed on "these heinous acts."

Public events across Russia called off after attack

Several regional leaders across Russia, including in the annexed Kherson region of Ukraine, have canceled public events this weekend over security considerations after the deadly concert attack in Moscow.

Shortly after the attack, Moscow Mayor Sergey Sobyanin canceled all sports, cultural and other public events in Moscow this weekend. State news agency TASS also quoted Russia's cultural ministry as saying that mass and entertainment events in federal cultural institutions have been canceled in the coming days.

Zelenskyy adviser speaks out about attack

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s adviser denied that Ukraine was involved in the deadly Crocus concert hall attack.

“Ukraine certainly has nothing to do with the shooting/explosions in the Crocus City Hall (Moscow Region, Russia),” Mykhailo Podolyak wrote on X. “It makes no sense whatsoever.”

No evidence has emerged to suggest Ukraine may have been involved, but Ukrainian officials may be trying to pre-empt accusations, as some Kremlin hawks have already started pointing at Kyiv. 

Asked whether the shooting was at all tied to the war in Ukraine, U.S. National Security Council spokesperson John Kirby said: “There is no indication at this time that Ukraine, or Ukrainians, were involved in the shooting, but again, this just broke. We’re taking a look at it, but I would disabuse you at this early hour have any connection to Ukraine.”

Videos posted to social media appear to show chaos inside Moscow's Crocus City Hall during and after a terrorist attack.

Some videos include what sound like gunshots and show men with rifles, as concertgoers frantically try to exit the venue.

State Department issues warning to Americans in Moscow

Jason Abbruzzese

The State Department said that the U.S. Embassy in Moscow is aware of the terrorist attack on Crocus City Hall and that U.S. citizens should avoid the area and follow the instructions of local authorities.

"The U.S. government’s ability to provide routine or emergency services to U.S. citizens in Russia is severely limited, particularly in areas far from the U.S. embassy in Moscow, due to Russian government limitations on travel for U.S. embassy personnel and staffing, and the ongoing suspension of operations, including consular services, at U.S. consulates in Russia," the State Department said in a message posted to its website .

'What a nightmare in Crocus,' Widow of opposition leader Alexei Navalny condolences about concert attack

Yulia Navalnaya, the widow of Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny who died in prison last month, expressed her condolences about the attack Friday.

"What a nightmare in Crocus," Navalnaya wrote on X. "Condolences to the families of the victims and quick recovery to the injured. Everyone involved in this crime must be found and held accountable."

320 firefighters, 3 helicopters working to put out fire

Russia's Ministry of Emergency Situations said the number of rescue crews responding to the attack is growing and now includes more than 320 firefighters, 130 emergency vehicles and three helicopters dumping water on the burning concert venue.

Moscow regional governor says 40 dead, more than 100 injured

Moscow Regional Governor Andrei Vorobyov said on Telegram that at least 40 people are dead and more than 100 injured in the terrorist attack, confirming figures previously reported by Russian state news.

Putin informed about concert venue attack 'in the first minutes,' Kremlin spokesperson says

Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said President Vladimir Putin was informed about the shooting at the Crocus concert hall "in the first minutes" of the attack, Russian state news agency RIA reported.

The president is receiving information about what is happening and the measures being taken through all relevant services and is giving necessary instructions, Peskov said according to RIA.

Russian journalist was inside concert venue when gunmen entered

Russian news agency RIA Novosti said on Telegram that one of its reporters was inside the venue when gunmen entered and began shooting concertgoers.

The journalist said that at least three unmasked gunmen in camouflage entered the hall a few minutes before 8 p.m. Moscow time. They shot people point-blank and threw incendiary bombs, according to the journalist.

Russia's foreign ministry spokesperson calls incident 'bloody terrorist attack'

Maria Zakharova, spokesperson for Russia's foreign ministry, called the Friday night incident at the Crocus City Hall in Moscow a "bloody terrorist attack" as she called for "strong condemnation" from the international community.

"Now, as the Russian authorities have stated, all efforts are being devoted to saving people," Zakharova said. "The entire world community is obliged to condemn this monstrous crime!"

U.S. national security spokesperson says embassy has told Americans to avoid large gatherings in Moscow

Kyla Guilfoil

National Security Council Spokesman John Kirby addressed the attack in Moscow at a White House press briefing Friday afternoon, calling it a “terrible, terrible shooting attack.”

“The images are just horrible and just hard to watch and our thoughts obviously are going to be with the the victims,” Kirby said.

Kirby added that the U.S. embassy has notified all Americans in Moscow to avoid large gatherings, concerts, shopping malls, etc., and “stay put where they are” for their safety.

Russian media says 40 dead, more than 100 injured at concert attack

TASS, Russia's state-owned news agency, and RIA Novosti are reporting that Russia's FSB security agency has put the preliminary casualty count at 40 dead and more than 100 injured by a terrorist attack on a Moscow-area concert venue.

NBC News has not confirmed those casualty numbers.

Roof of concert venue at risk of collapse, Russian media says

Russian news agency RIA Novosti said on Telegram that the roof of the building near the concert venue's stage has begun to collapse.

Video posted to Telegram by RIA Novosti showed fire continue to blaze inside the venue.

Moscow area governor says more than 70 ambluances at scene of attack

Andrei Vorobyov, Moscow's regional governor, said on Telegram that more than 70 ambulances have been dispatched to the scene of concert venue attack.

“Everything is being done at the scene to save people," he wrote in the Telegram message. "The Special Rapid Response Unit (SOBR) has been deployed. There are over 70 ambulance carriages near Crocus, doctors provide the necessary assistance to all victims."

Nigel Chiwaya

Russia’s prosecutor general office says number of victims still being determined

Russia's prosecutor general said on Telegram that officials are working to determine how many people have been killed or hurt in the concert attack.

“On behalf of Igor Krasnov, the prosecutor of the Moscow region has gone to the scene of the incident at Crocus City Hall to coordinate the actions of law enforcement agencies," the prosecutor general's Telegram account posted. "Tonight, before the start of the event in the concert hall in Krasnogorsk, unknown men in camouflage clothes broke into the building and started shooting."

"The number of victims is being determined, a fire started in the entertainment center building, and citizens are being evacuated."

Moscow's mayor cancels weekend events

Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin said on Telegram that he was canceling all public events in Moscow this weekend.

"I have taken the decision to cancel all sports, cultural and other public events in Moscow this weekend," he said. "I ask of you to treat this measure with understanding."

Popular rock band was to play sold-out venue that can hold 9,500

Tim Stelloh

A popular rock band was scheduled to play what appeared to be a sold-out show at the Moscow concert hall where there were reports of gunmen in combat fatigues opening fire.

Picnic, formed in 1978, was to play at Crocus City Hall, west of central Moscow.

The multilevel facility in Krasnogorsk has a maximum capacity of 9,527 people. Booking sites show the event was sold out.

Russia's aviation agency says additional security added to Moscow airports

The Russian aviation agency Rosaviatsiya said that additional security measures are being introduced in Moscow airports

"Due to increased security measures, we ask passengers to arrive at Sheremetyevo, Domodedovo, Vnukovo and Zhukovsky airports in advance," the agency said on the Telegram messaging app.

Moscow's emergency ministry says it is working to extinguish fire

Moscow’s emegency ministry said it was working to extinguish a fire that began at the music venue.

The ministry said about 100 people were evacuated from the building, and it was working to rescue people from the roof.

Russian media says state security taking action

Russia's news outlet RIA Novosti said that the country's security agency, the FSB, is taking measures to respond to the shooting at a concert hall near Moscow.

Videos posted by Russian media show men with rifles moving through area

Extended rounds of gunfire could be heard on multiple videos posted by Russian media and Telegram channels. One showed two men with rifles moving through a concert hall. Another one showed a man inside the auditorium, saying the assailants set it on fire, with incessant gunshots ringing out in the background.

Andrei Vorobyov, the governor of the Moscow region, said he was heading to the area and set up a task force to deal with the damage. He didn’t immediately offer any further details.

Russian media reports said that riot police units were being sent to the area as people were being evacuated.

Russian news outlets report gunman opened fire at Moscow concert hall

Several gunmen in combat fatigues burst into a big concert hall in Moscow on Friday and fired automatic weapons at the crowd, injuring an unspecified number of people, Russian media said.

Russian news reports said that the assailants also used explosives, causing a massive blaze at the Crocus City Hall on the western edge of Moscow. Video posted on social media showed huge plumes of black smoke rising over the building.

Russia’s state RIA Novosti news agency reported that at least three people in combat fatigues fired weapons. The state Tass news agency also reported the shooting.

U.S. warned of imminent Moscow attack by ‘extremists,’ urges citizens to avoid crowds

Patrick Smith

U.S. citizens in  Moscow  had been warned to avoid large gatherings earlier this month because of heightened fears of a terrorist attack.

The U.S. Embassy in the Russian capital said it was “monitoring reports that extremists have imminent plans to target large gatherings in Moscow, to include concerts, and U.S. citizens should be advised to avoid large gatherings over the next 48 hours.”

U.S. citizens should avoid crowds, monitor local media for updates and “be aware of your surroundings,” it said in a brief  online update .

Read the full story here.