State Department warns against travel to Russia

Attack on concert hall near Moscow has killed 40 and injured more than 100
U.S. government recently warned Americans to avoid crowded places in Moscow
State Department has had the country on a 'do not travel' list due to conflict

Updated: Mar 22, 2024 / 03:51 PM CDT

A massive blaze is seen over the Crocus City Hall on the western edge of Moscow, Russia, Friday, March 22, 2024. Several gunmen have burst into a big concert hall in Moscow and fired automatic weapons at the crowd, injuring an unspecified number of people and setting a massive blaze in an apparent terror attack days after President Vladimir Putin cemented his grip on the country in a highly orchestrated electoral landlside. (Sergei Vedyashkin/Moscow News Agency via AP)

(NewsNation) — The State Department is warning Americans to avoid Russia, reminding people the country is on the ‘do not travel’ list.

The warning comes following a shooting at Crocus City Hall in Krasnogorsk, a city near Moscow. Russian authorities are investigating the attack as terrorism.

The attack killed 40 and wounded at least 100 after gunmen burst into the concert hall and began spraying visitors with bullets. According to Russian media, the roof of the building collapsed after a fire caused by explosives.

Russian rock band Picnic was playing at the venue, which can hold 6,000 people.

The attack comes after Russian President Vladimir Putin was reelected in a tightly managed election, securing his role for six years. As Russia has continued to wage a drawn-out war in Ukraine, the president has cracked down on dissent.

The U.S. government recently warned Americans to avoid crowded places in and around Moscow because of the risk of a terrorist attack.

The State Department had already placed Russia on the ‘do not travel’ list due to conflict and warned that the ability of the State Department or U.S. Embassy to help American citizens is limited due to restrictions from the Russian government and the closure of U.S. consulates.