The incident occurred as Vladimir Putin was addressing security service workers.
December 19, 2019, 7:29 PM
4 min read
A shooting near the Federal Security Service building in central Moscow has killed a government agent and seriously injured several others, according to news agencies in Russia.
At least one attacker opened fire near Lubyanka, according to a statement from the Federal Security Office, or FSB, Russia’s main security service. A gunman was killed, according to the statement.
One FSB officer has been killed, state news agency TASS reported.
State news agency RIA Novosti reported that at least five people have been wounded. The motive of the attack is unknown.
Russian police officers walk along a street next to the FSB security service's office in Moscow after a shooting on Dec. 19, 2019.
Russian police officers walk along a street next to the FSB security service's office in Moscow after a shooting on Dec. 19, 2019.Vasily Maximov/AFP via Getty Images
Video shows people running in Moscow as the sound of gunfire rings out in the background. Another video posted to a popular Russian social media platform shows the front of the building with a traffic police officer lying motionless on the ground.
Photos and videos taken by journalists showed heavily armed police officers huddled near the building as well as armed officers running toward it.
Russian special forces officers stand next to the office of the FSB security service in Moscow on Dec. 19, 2019.
Russian special forces officers stand next to the office of the FSB security service in Moscow on Dec. 19, 2019.AFP via Getty Images
A spokesman for the Investigative Committee of Russia told Interfax that a case has been opened under article 317 of the criminal code, which involves an attempt on the life of law enforcement officers.
Russia's president, Vladimir Putin, has been informed of the shooting, according to Interfax. The incident occurred as Putin was addressing security service workers for Russian Security Services Day on Friday.
Security officers stand guard a street near the Federal Security Service building after a shooting incident, in Moscow, Dec. 19, 2019.
Security officers stand guard a street near the Federal Security Service building after a shooting incident, in Moscow, Dec. 19, 2019.Shamil Zhumatov/Reuters
In his remarks, Putin said 54 terror-related crimes, including 33 terrorist attacks, had been stopped in Russia since the beginning of the year, according to Interfax.
Lubyanka is a feared symbol of Russia’s security state and the location of where the KGB was based during the Soviet period. The FSB building is located about a half mile from the Kremlin and is at the heart of Moscow's shopping and food districts.
