Multiple people killed in shooting at Russia’s Federal Security Service headquarters

A shooting has taken place in central Moscow at the Federal Security Service (FSB) building on Lubyanka Square. RBC reported that an unknown individual opened fire there using a Kalashnikov automatic rifle. Preliminary eyewitness reports indicated that one individual began shooting in the FSB’s reception area, after which he ran out into the street and continued shooting there. RT reported that the shooter barricaded himself inside a nearby building while exchanging fire with officers.

As of 7:13 PM local time, the shooter had been killed, according to the FSB press service. Officers are currently working to establish his identity. Multiple journalists reported hearing what sounded like gunshots even after the shooter was dead, including a Meduza correspondent.

The Telegram channel112 initially claimed that three people were involved in the shooting, and two were killed immediately, but this report appears to be false. While the Moskva news agency reported that the FSB ultimately confirmed this version of events, Interfax has written that the FSB said only a single shooter was involved. Moskva later deleted its story.

There have been multiple fatalities among security employees. 112 wrote that three Federal Protective Service (FSO) employees were killed, though no official reports of those deaths have been released. Mash, which is also based on Telegram, reported the death of one traffic safety employee standing guard outside the building, which the FSB later confirmed. According to the Moskva News Agency, two people were injured in a shootout, and one later died of his injuries. The agency did not specify whether those two individuals were affiliated with a government agency. An FSB representative subsequently told RIA Novosti that an FSB agent had been killed, and the Health Ministry reported five total injuries.

The “Siren” alert was activated throughout the capital, according to the Telegram channel Baza. The alert signals a search for an active shooter; it was canceled at 7:30 PM local time. In all FSB buildings, the “Fortress” plan was also activated, meaning the buildings are on total lockdown and no one may enter or exit. On-call officers from the Alpha special ops force as well as immediate response special ops troops were called to the scene, according to REN TV. Baza also claimed that emergency services have been asked to assist in putting out a fire at the site of the shooting, though that report has not been confirmed. By 7:39 PM, a criminal case had been opened to investigate the shooting.