for our entire family, but i've had a fantastic medical team who've taken great care of me, for which i'm so grateful. injanuary, i underwent major abdominal surgery in london, and at the time, it was thought that my condition was non—cancerous. the surgery was successful. however, tests after the operation found cancer had been present. my medical team therefore advised that i should undergo a course of preventative chemotherapy, and i'm now in the early stages of that treatment. this of course came as a huge shock, and william and i have been doing everything we can to process and manage this privately for the sake of our young family. as you can imagine, this has taken time. it has taken me time to recover from major surgery in order

to start my treatment. but most importantly, it has taken us time to explain everything to george, charlotte and louis in a way that's appropriate for them, and to reassure them that i'm going to be ok. as i've said to them, i am well, and getting stronger every day by focusing on the things that will help me heal, in my mind, body and spirit. having william by my side is a great source of comfort and reassurance, too, as is the love, support and kindness that has been shown by so many of you. it means so much to us both. we hope that you'll understand that, as a family, we now need some time, space and privacy while i complete my treatment. my work has always brought me a deep sense ofjoy, and i look forward to being back when i'm able. but for now, i must focus on making a full recovery. at this time, i'm also thinking of all those whose lives have been affected by cancer. for everyone facing this disease, in whateverform, please do not lose faith or hope.

you are not alone. the princess of wales with a personal message that we are told was filmed on wednesday at windsor. buckingham palace has made a short statement including king charles�* comments about the princess of wales. it says his majesty is �*so proud of catherine for her courage in speaking as she did. that his majesty remained in the closest contact with his beloved daughter—in—law throughout the past weeks. and that both king charles and queen camilla �*will continue to offer their love and support to the whole family through this difficult time.�* the duke and duchess of sussex — prince harry and meghan — have sent a message to their sister in law, princess catherine. it's a short statement — it simply reads — "we wish health and healing for kate and the family, and hope they are able to do so privately and in peace." with me is our roya correspondent sarah campbell. it isa it is a tough announcement for anyone to have to make whether it is to their family all the rest of the

world and it has come after a really torrid time for the princess. yes. just to torrid time for the princess. yes. just to take _ torrid time for the princess. yes. just to take you _ torrid time for the princess. yes. just to take you through - torrid time for the princess. yes. just to take you through the - just to take you through the details, we had the statement released in mid—january that catherine had undergone major abdominal surgery on the 16th of january. and then what happened subsequently, because at the time they said it was noncancerous, that was the guidance that we were given. but what has now been revealed is that post—operative tests are so afterwards subsequently found cancer had in fact been present. and so that was necessitated the need for this preventative chemotherapy which we understand started at the end of february and which continues now. in terms of the timing is, why we are hearing about it now, i think it is clear that the number one priority for the family has been the three children. she has three children of course. george is the oldest at ten

so they are all really young. today was their final day at school so now they are able to shield them, if you like, from what they knew as soon as this came out would be a huge global story. i think that explains the timing. you watch the statement. it is relatively positive despite the news that's been delivered. i think the message is an upbeat one and the message that we should take away is that she certainly feels that she is getting stronger, that is what she has told her children, she is getting stronger every day and that her medical team expected to make a full recovery. her medical team expected to make a full recovery-— full recovery. what we don't have is an more full recovery. what we don't have is any more detail— full recovery. what we don't have is any more detail were _ full recovery. what we don't have is any more detail were similar- full recovery. what we don't have is any more detail were similar to - full recovery. what we don't have is any more detail were similar to the | any more detail were similar to the king's situation, a form of cancer but we don't know what type of cancer. it is interesting that she had given quite a personal message about other cancer sufferers, it's not just about her and about other cancer sufferers, it's notjust about her and she is broadening it out.— notjust about her and she is broadenin: it out. , ., ,., broadening it out. yes, we have some detail but not — broadening it out. yes, we have some detail but not all— broadening it out. yes, we have some detail but not all detail, _ broadening it out. yes, we have some detail but not all detail, which - broadening it out. yes, we have some detail but not all detail, which as - detail but not all detail, which as you say is very similar to the king's diagnosis, the amount of

information that we had and interestingly in the same way they did with the king, they have provided a sort of q and day so that people like you and me can explain what we do and don't know. they haven't been specific about the type of cancer that was detected. they haven't been specific even about the original surgery that she underwent. let's not forget that since january she has not only, we now know, been recovering from this major abdominal surgery, but now also recovering from the cancer treatment as well, or undergoing the cancer treatment as well. like i say, we don't know. there are things that we don't know. we don't know when she is likely to return to work. but clearly that will be completely down to her medical team and when they feel that she is able to do that. i think the watchwords that were take from that statement are done like is that now is the time after all the speculation, the online media frenzy if you like, which hasn't been

directly addressed within that statement, although she does talk about the fact that it has taken time for her and herfamily about the fact that it has taken time for her and her family to process this information, and now what she wants is time, space, and above all privacy. in what she wants is time, space, and above all privacy.— above all privacy. in your experience _ above all privacy. in your experience of _ above all privacy. in your experience of these - above all privacy. in your. experience of these things, above all privacy. in your- experience of these things, is that likely to happen? is privacy something she is likely to get now? i think we are in different days and we have seen that over the last six weeks, that there has been this void of information. what we have now at least is a lot more information, so a lot of those questions that have been asked online over the last six weeks have now been answered. not everything, so i suspect there will be some speculation going about online. but we are in different days. social media is so pervasive that one hopes that the speculation will die down. but we will have to see. a lot of people live their lives online and like having something like this to speculate on. will the chartered die down? chat

about one of the most public well—known women in the world? probably not. in terms of the royal family and how it carries on its duties now, two seniorfigures now not able to perform the kind of duty they would normally perform. yes. let's not forget _ they would normally perform. yes. let's not forget that _ they would normally perform. 13; let's not forget that queen camilla has been out and about. she was in northern ireland this week. the duke, sorry, the prince of wales has clearly known about this for awhile now but he has been carrying on his duties. what i would expect now that the children are off school is we probably won't expect to see prince william until after the school holidays are finished because i think they will want this family time together. but you are absolutely right, although we have been talking all evening about the fact that one in two of us will experience a cancer diagnosis, there are not many of us that will have a cancer and then have to be public, or ourfamily members cancer and then have to be public, or our family members will have to be public in such a way. so

undoubtedly a really difficult time for them. ., ., ~ , ., , undoubtedly a really difficult time for them. ., ., ~ y., , . for them. sarah, thank you very much indeed. for them. sarah, thank you very much indeed- sarah — for them. sarah, thank you very much indeed. sarah campbell, _ for them. sarah, thank you very much indeed. sarah campbell, royal- indeed. sarah campbell, royal correspondent. ben laud, a royal commentator, joins us. thank you for being with us. what if you make of the tone of the announcement? tonight's announcement has been incredibly brave, filled with stoicism, but is undoubtedly in reaction to the intense speculation that has become a blazing inferno quite honestly across social media and strands ofjournalistic media over the past few days. it is quite unprecedented, but nevertheless intimate, personal, carefully crafted, in that typical way the princess of wales speaks, with such a common touch that so many across the country and indeed the world resonate with. d0 the country and indeed the world resonate with.— the country and indeed the world resonate with. do you think they've had to change _ resonate with. do you think they've had to change their _ resonate with. do you think they've had to change their strategy - resonate with. do you think they've had to change their strategy in - had to change their strategy in light of what you have described, the frenzy of speculation and

disinformation that's been around online? it’s disinformation that's been around online? �* . , disinformation that's been around online? 3 , , . online? it's entirely unprecedented for members _ online? it's entirely unprecedented for members of _ online? it's entirely unprecedented for members of the _ online? it's entirely unprecedented for members of the royal- online? it's entirely unprecedented for members of the royal family i online? it's entirely unprecedented l for members of the royal family and in particular senior members of the royalfamily to so in particular senior members of the royal family to so candidly appear on camera to announce such a significant piece of personal news. it is most unlike anything we have seen. and therefore, it is undoubtedly because of what has happened over the past couple of weeks from mother's day through to the serialised photograph in newspapers this week, for her appearance last week out and about in windsor and all of the commentary around the editing and enhancement of those photographs, that they would have been a position where she would have been a position where she would have been a position where she would have felt compelled to somehow distill this once and for all. it is most unfortunate that she has been forced to do that but nevertheless she has with that stoic bravery, and one hopes now that she will be given that time, space and privacy that she referenced in her address to come to terms with this, deal with the treatment that she has been

prescribed and look to her future and recovery. the prescribed and look to her future and recovery-— and recovery. the context is also that we have _ and recovery. the context is also that we have had _ and recovery. the context is also that we have had earlier- and recovery. the context is also that we have had earlier this - and recovery. the context is also. that we have had earlier this week an investigation being launched into alleged unauthorised attempts to access her confidential medical record at that clinic she was treated at. do you think that by putting this out there in the public in this way kind of intrusion will die down, or do you think we are in an era where a sort of thing will continue to happen? i an era where a sort of thing will continue to happen?— an era where a sort of thing will continue to happen? i think matters surrounding — continue to happen? i think matters surrounding the _ continue to happen? i think matters surrounding the royal— continue to happen? i think matters surrounding the royalfamily, - continue to happen? i think matters surrounding the royal family, it - continue to happen? i think matters surrounding the royal family, it is i surrounding the royal family, it is not foreign that there has been intense inquisitiveness around their lives beyond what we see publicly for some 30 or a0 years and beyond. it isjust as for some 30 or a0 years and beyond. it is just as technology and the media has evolved that the inquisitiveness has increased. therefore, people will, it seems, stop at no boundaries to see what they can find to be able to then thrust into the public domain. so it

is probably without surprise that with those governance issues that the london clinic are investigating at the moment, that that will have played a part in the announcement that was broadcast tonight. tell played a part in the announcement that was broadcast tonight.- that was broadcast tonight. tell us a little bit about _ that was broadcast tonight. tell us a little bit about her— that was broadcast tonight. tell us a little bit about her support - a little bit about her support network. she mentions in her statement having william by my side is a great source of comfort and reassurance, too, as is the love and support and kindness shown by so many of you. and presumably there is also her immediate family. tell us a little bit about how they operate and how they would rally around in a situation like this. it is and how they would rally around in a situation like this.— situation like this. it is quite clear throughout _ situation like this. it is quite clear throughout that - situation like this. it is quite clear throughout that time l situation like this. it is quite l clear throughout that time the princess of wales has been a member of the royal family that she and the royal family have very much included her own family, the middleton family into their world and made sure that they are protected and cared for and looked after accordingly. so it is quite clear that the princess's own family, she has a close relationship with her mother and herfather and her siblings, they will all be

wanting to rally around her and support her accordingly, just as much as what the immediate family on william's side will be doing as well. so i think we can very much expect that they will be on hand close by. nevertheless, this is quite unprecedented for the princess of wales to be enduring right now. not only has he had to provide that additional support following his father's cancer diagnosis, but now he is faced with doing the same with his wife whilst maintaining that public outlook and that public duty that he does. but at the same time feeling very much as a husband and a father to protect and care for his family as he needs to in their hours and days ahead. this family as he needs to in their hours and days ahead.— and days ahead. as a public figure, as perhaps — and days ahead. as a public figure, as perhaps one _ and days ahead. as a public figure, as perhaps one of— and days ahead. as a public figure, as perhaps one of the _ and days ahead. as a public figure, as perhaps one of the most - and days ahead. as a public figure, as perhaps one of the most public. as perhaps one of the most public figures in the country, how difficult will it be for him to access the kind of support that other people might get or that families might otherwise get when there is a cancer diagnosis for a relative? do you think that is something he will get? and also, there is the situation where he is

no longer that close to his brother who one might think at that time would be a social support, as you say, when his father has cancer and his wife has cancer.— his wife has cancer. fundamentally what needs — his wife has cancer. fundamentally what needs to _ his wife has cancer. fundamentally what needs to be _ his wife has cancer. fundamentally what needs to be borne _ his wife has cancer. fundamentally what needs to be borne in - his wife has cancer. fundamentally what needs to be borne in mind - his wife has cancer. fundamentally what needs to be borne in mind is| what needs to be borne in mind is that the royal family are still people and therefore what they endure, whether it be in their health or another aspect of their private life, but particular instance with their health, they are entitled to receive the same level of compassion, support and empathy that any other person would be going through in a similarjourney. and i am very much assured, as i'm sure everybody else will be, that those taking care of the princess of wales won'tjust be thinking of her needs and treatment first and foremost, but that of her immediate surrounding family as well. and i am sure that the prince of wales will be very much a part of that. it's going to be challenging. let's not forget that. human factors will come into play. there will be times when he would probably much rather be

staying at home looking after his family but has got royal commitments to be elsewhere. but nevertheless, the internal workings of the royal household coupled with the medical teams both again part of the royal household, but equally those in the specialty looking after the princess will be making sure that all of their needs are met and cared for to their needs are met and cared for to the best level possible. hater the best level possible. how important — the best level possible. how important is _ the best level possible. how important is it _ the best level possible. how important is it do _ the best level possible. how important is it do you - the best level possible. how important is it do you think with both the princess of wales and the king that this shines a light on a condition or a disease that is so prevalent in the country? i think what this demonstrates - prevalent in the country? i think what this demonstrates is - prevalent in the country? i think what this demonstrates is that l prevalent in the country? i think what this demonstrates is that a disease like cancer is completely indiscriminate, irrespective of whether you may be able to afford some of the best private type of health care which is no different in quality to what we see through our national health service, i think it is quite clear that this is a completely indiscriminate condition,

and therefore it will resonate throughout the world with people going through their cancerjourney going through their cancer journey is going through their cancerjourney is right now, or who may have gone through it previously, and it will have a deep touch to everybody that has endured that. so i think it is fair to say that the royals will be adjusting and adapting to this much the same as what anybody else who receives such harrowing diagnoses on a daily basis. ben receives such harrowing diagnoses on a daily basis-— a daily basis. ben lord, thank you for coming _ a daily basis. ben lord, thank you for coming on _ a daily basis. ben lord, thank you for coming on to _ a daily basis. ben lord, thank you for coming on to talk— a daily basis. ben lord, thank you for coming on to talk to _ a daily basis. ben lord, thank you for coming on to talk to us. - the prime minister, rishi sunak, has posted on x — formerly known as twitter — sending his support to princess catherine. "my thoughts are with the princess of wales, the prince of wales, the royalfamily, and in particular her three children at this difficult time. she has shown tremendous bravery with her statement today. i know i speak for the whole country in wishing her a full and speedy recovery, and look forward to seeing her back in action when she's ready." the labour leader, sir keir starmer, has also sent his best wishes

to the princess of wales. he tweeted — "on behalf of the labour party, i want to send my very best wishes to her royal highness at this distressing time. i am heartened by the princess of wales' optimistic tone, and her message of faith and hope. her royal highness will be in our thoughts and prayers, as she progresses through the treatment, with the love and support of notjust her whole family, but the whole nation too." the leader of the liberal democrats, ed davey, says his thoughts and prayers are with the princess of wales, after hearing such sad news. he added that his party joins the entire country in wishing her a speedy recovery, and hoping that the royalfamily will be given space and privacy at this difficult time. for the snp, humza yousaf said he was deeply saddened to hear the news, and is praying for a swift recovery. he said it must be an incredibly difficult time for the whole family. let's speak to royal commentator and journalist, pandora forsyth. thank you forjoining us. give us an

idea of what you thought when you heard the statement.— heard the statement. terribly shockina heard the statement. terribly shocking and _ heard the statement. terribly shocking and it _ heard the statement. terribly shocking and it just _ heard the statement. terribly shocking and itjust goes - heard the statement. terribly shocking and it just goes to l heard the statement. terribly . shocking and itjust goes to show that cancer can affect anybody at any age. i think what's really important here is that she is being brave, as the king has already stated in his message about his daughter—in—law this evening. but also, family, just how important thatis also, family, just how important that is to catherine and her children are still coming first and so is her health and her recovery. away from what must have been an extremely difficult and scary time for her, to be quite frank, given all the speculation that has happened over the past few months surrounding her health. she happened over the past few months surrounding her health.— happened over the past few months surrounding her health. she does say in her statement, _ surrounding her health. she does say in her statement, "i _ surrounding her health. she does say in her statement, "i am _ surrounding her health. she does say in her statement, "i am well - surrounding her health. she does say in her statement, "i am well and - in her statement, "i am well and getting stronger by the day. " what do you think we can read into that? ijust think that's do you think we can read into that? i just think that's very reflective

of her as a person, keeping her head above water in quite difficult headlines and a difficult time in her life in trying to stay positive as well for her family and for her children. she says she takes great comfort in the fact that her husband the prince of wales has been by her side, and i've got no doubt will continue to be by her side while she has this preventative chemotherapy. she talks about the need to take time to explain everything to george, charlotte and louis in a way thatis george, charlotte and louis in a way that is appropriate for them, she says. it must be one of the hardest tasks for anybody in this situation. absolutely. extremely difficult, and i'm sure many families around the uk and the world, to be honest, will completely sympathise with her on that note. apparently one in two people do get diagnosed with some sort of cancer at some point in their life within the uk. so, very scary statistics. but in her work,

she also mentioned in this video message this evening, she has been so open about her early childhood, there has been her key state work, as it were, since she became part of the royalfamily and did marry william. she has really pushed that along. so she would have taken, i'm sure, advice along the way of how to really handle quite tricky conversations with children, and she would have taken great care, as any loving mother would, to make sure that her children understand in a way which is in private and behind the media glare.— way which is in private and behind the media glare. what do you think the media glare. what do you think the im act the media glare. what do you think the impact will _ the media glare. what do you think the impact will be _ the media glare. what do you think the impact will be on _ the media glare. what do you think the impact will be on prince - the impact will be on prince william? do you think... his father is being treated for cancer and now his wife, how difficult will that be for him and how will he manage it? we saw him this week, didn't we, where he was speaking about

homelessness in sheffield. and he really is keeping his head above water and carrying on, which must feel like the world on his shoulders at the moment. but he is staying positive. and as catherine said, she remains, she feels well and she wants her headspace and her mindset to remain that way. and i think the fact that he is staying positive about this will bring her great comfort and he will continue to do so because she will be attending, well, we don't know this, but what well, we don't know this, but what we do know is she is having preventative chemotherapy so i have no doubt that of course she will be at times perhaps a little bit tired and he will be really taking the reins. we saw her as well with her mother and her brother has spoken this evening, and is apparently in good contact with the rest of the royal family as well. i'm sure everyone, as anybody affected with

cancer, theirfamilies everyone, as anybody affected with cancer, their families wrap their arms around them physically and emotively to make sure they can do anything they can to sort of keep her through this tremendously difficult time for her in her life. thank you for your thoughts, pandora forsyth, as we continue our special coverage of the announcement of the princess of wales in which she said she was undergoing preventative treatment for cancer after she had taken some time away from the public spotlight to recover from abdominal surgery. it is after that surgery that tests discovered that there was some cancer and she is in the early stages, she said, of a course of preventative chemotherapy. let's move on to our other main story tonight. reports from moscow suggest a number of people have been killed and wounded during a shooting at a concert hall. dramatic pictures have been posted online and which the bbc has verified, just a warning this shows gunmen firing inside the venue. gunfire

russian news agencies say at least three people dressed in camouflage opened fire at the venue, crocus city hall. this video supports those reports. you can see several people — all appear armed — there in the hall. russian media report that up to 6,200 people were attending a concert at the time, that's how many tickets had been sold, they were there for the famous russian rock band picnic. in a statement, moscow's mayor said a huge tragedy had occurred. a lot of witnesses shared what was happening in the concert hall in their social media, including on instagram. let's listen to one of the witnesses. translation: we just ended up in a firefight in crocus. _ we were waiting for a concert by the band picnic. some people in brown clothing, i don't know who they were, terrorists, military, whoever, broke into the auditorium and started shooting at people with assault rifles. everybody started running away.

there was a crush was terrible, simply panic, everyone was lying on the ground, people were pushing each other. right now behind me crocus is on fire, they set it on fire. we just literally somehow got out of this several minutes to go without our coats, without anything. we alljust ran out of there. not everyone managed to run out because everyone was running to different parts of crocus. we don't know where the police are. the police, the rio, police are just starting to arrive. assault rifles are being used. terrorists. i don't know, there is no—one, no—one to help people. everyone tried to save themselves as best as they could. many remain in crocus. and here is another person who says he was inside the building when the shooting took place. translation: i was sitting in the hall upstairs - where the balconies were. we heard gunshots. at first we didn't understand what was happening.

then i personally saw how the terrorists came in and started shooting everyone. in the end, they threw a petrol bomb, everything was set on fire. we were led to the exit. it turned out the exit was locked. we ran all over the crocus city trying to find an exit but to no avail and we went into the basement of the crocus city hall and waited for the emergency services and got out. let's speak now to our security correspondent, gordon corera. gordon, just why we have been on air we have had a line coming through from the afp wire news agency saying the islamic state group, otherwise known as isil, has claimed responsibility for this russian gun attack. that's only one agency at the moment. what more detail do you have of the whole thing?— have of the whole thing? that's ri . ht. we have of the whole thing? that's right. we have _ have of the whole thing? that's right. we have just _ have of the whole thing? that's right. we have just seen - have of the whole thing? that's right. we have just seen this i have of the whole thing? that's i right. we have just seen this report right. we havejust seen this report that there is some kind of statement which has been put out by a group

saying they were behind it. not always clear that that means they were. we have to treat all of these claims with a touch of scepticism initially, although i think that certainly has always been seen as a strong possibility. in terms of who might have been behind it. because of the nature of the attack. it was quite similar to other attacks we have seen of marauding gunmen attacks we have seen in other cases, evenin attacks we have seen in other cases, even in a paris venue, the bataclan in 2015. so that certainly remains a strong possibility. but it is just a claim at the moment and i don't think we can confirm it. we have had the speculation about who might have been behind it. the question of whether there were warnings from the us or not. and also obviously the ukrainians quickly denying that they were in any way responsible, clearly worried that perhaps moscow might point the finger at them given the ongoing conflict between russia and

ukraine. but certainly the way that those gunmen operated in the theatre and in the shopping mall trying to kill as many innocent people as they could certainly does seem to have some similarities with other attacks we have seen before linked to isis rather than the other kind of operations we might have seen within russia. so i think we have to treat all of those statements with a degree of scepticism but it is certainly possible given the nature of this attack. find certainly possible given the nature of this attack.— of this attack. and at the moment the figures _ of this attack. and at the moment the figures seem _ of this attack. and at the moment the figures seem to _ of this attack. and at the moment the figures seem to be _ of this attack. and at the moment the figures seem to be that i of this attack. and at the moment the figures seem to be that at i of this attack. and at the moment. the figures seem to be that at least a0 people have been killed and 100 wounded. tell us about the situation now. is the situation under control? i think one of the concerns will be it was a very chaotic situation. you could see people fleeing from the gunmen inside the auditorium. fleeing in all directions. you could see people hiding potentially barricading themselves into rooms, that's typically what you also see in these kind of attacks. and then you saw a fire broke out. one of the

concerns will be that you need to get the fire under control and see whether there are still people hidden or hiding away in the building somehow, people who might be injured. those who need to be evacuated. and then there is the question of what happened to the gunmen, that's one of the main concerns, did they flee, are they holed up somewhere in there, they still alive? holed up somewhere in there, they stillalive? it holed up somewhere in there, they still alive? it is always quite a difficult situation where it can often take quite a few hours after an incident begins for it to be clear what's happened and for it to be under control.— clear what's happened and for it to be under control. what was the state of security alert _ be under control. what was the state of security alert at _ be under control. what was the state of security alert at the _ be under control. what was the state of security alert at the time - be under control. what was the state of security alert at the time when i of security alert at the time when this happened? i of security alert at the time when this happened?— this happened? i think it is noticeable _ this happened? i think it is noticeable that _ this happened? i think it is noticeable that just - this happened? i think it is noticeable that just over i this happened? i think it is i noticeable that just over two this happened? i think it is - noticeable that just over two weeks ago on march seven to the us issued this advisory to its citizens to be aware of possible extremists, they said, targeting events, including, they said, concerts. russian authorities in the last few days actually dismissed those warnings from the us, but obviously given

what has happened, there will be a strong suspicion that there might be some link, that the us did have some insight into what might happen and that the question will be whether the russians took that seriously or took any action, or had any access took any action, or had any access to any similar intelligence. so i think that will be an important question people will be asking the moscow and it could become quite heated given the international climate we are in because of the tension in russia over ukraine. gordon corera, thank you for that update. these are live pictures from moscow of the scene where there has been a massive turnout of security forces, but also ambulances trying to reach those who have been wounded. the toll at the moment is at least a0 people killed and 100 injured in this incident in moscow at a concert hall. andrey vorobyov is a regional governor for moscow — and says firefighters are trying to control the blaze translation: a tragedy has occurred. we are near crocus concert hall,

firefighters are working, the fire area is very noticeable. everything else will be clear after the firefighters have completed their work. ukraine had "nothing to do" with a gun attack on a concert hall outside moscow on friday, presidential aide mykhailo podolyak says on telegram. let's have a listen. translation: regarding the event i in crocus city hall near moscow i where certain events took place today, some shooting, some terrorist actions by unidentified person. let's be clear, ukraine has absolutely nothing to do with these events. firstly, because we have a high—grade, full—scale, huge, intense war with the russian regular army and with russia as a country, and no matter what, everything would be decided on the battlefield. it is important for ukraine to conduct effective combat operations, offensive actions in order to destroy the regular russian army in this war.

secondly, ukraine has never used terrorist methods of warfare, terrorism as a method. 0ur russia editor steve rosenberg has more. all we know is that this evening, shortly before the start of a rock concert, a number of gunmen stormed into the concert hall, crocus city hall, which is near moscow, quite a prominent concert venue, and began shooting. we don't know yet how many gunmen there were or there are. some reports say at least four orfive, possibly more. we don't have any official figures yet about casualties, how many people were killed or injured? there have been all kinds of reports on social media. we do know that 70 ambulances were called to the scene, which gives some idea of the concern that casualty figures could be high after this shooting and the situation still continuing. so the latest information is that a number of special force groups

have gone into the building, have stormed the building.