Russia observed a national day of mourning on Sunday following a horrific massacre at a Moscow concert hall that claimed the lives of 137 people, including three children, making it the deadliest attack in Europe attributed to the Islamic State jihadist group.
President Vladimir Putin pledged to bring the perpetrators of the “barbaric terrorist attack” to justice, announcing the arrest of four gunmen attempting to flee to Ukraine.
“The whole country is in mourning with those who lost their loved ones in this inhumane tragedy,” stated public television channel Russia 24 on Sunday morning, reflecting the nation’s grief.
In his sole public statement on the attack, Putin did not directly address IS’s claims of responsibility.
The assault unfolded when camouflaged gunmen stormed the Crocus City Hall in Moscow’s northern suburb of Krasnogorsk on Friday evening, subsequently setting fire to the building.
Russia’s Investigative Committee revealed that guns and ammunition were recovered from the scene and a car used by the suspects to escape.
While officials have not disclosed the identities of the shooters, they confirmed that all were foreign nationals.
The Islamic State group claimed responsibility for the attack, describing it as part of their ongoing conflict with “countries fighting Islam.”
A video purportedly filmed by the assailants circulated on social media platforms affiliated with IS, depicting the gunmen firing assault rifles in the venue’s lobby as flames engulfed the background.
Russian investigators reported that after indiscriminately shooting attendees, the assailants ignited the building, leading to fatalities from smoke inhalation.
With 110 individuals still hospitalized and 40 in critical condition, authorities anticipate the death toll to rise.
The tragedy marks Russia’s deadliest attack since the Beslan school siege in 2004.