Russia observed a day of mourning following a tragic attack on a concert venue in Moscow that claimed the lives of at least 137 people, marking the country's deadliest incident in two decades.
Authorities have detained nearly a dozen individuals in connection with the massacre that occurred on Friday night when armed assailants stormed a popular concert venue complex on the outskirts of the capital.
ISIS claimed responsibility for the assault in a statement released by the ISIS-affiliated Amaq news agency on Telegram. This attack stands as the most lethal in Russia since the Beslan school siege in 2004.
Thousands of mourners from various cities in Russia braved the rain to lay flowers at a memorial outside the Crocus City Hall near Moscow in honor of the victims. Members of the clergy led prayers as flags were lowered to half-staff.
Russian President Vladimir Putin paid his respects by lighting a candle at a church in his Novo-Ogaryovo residence. He declared a day of mourning to mourn the victims of what he termed a 'bloody and barbaric act.'
Putin alleged that the attackers were attempting to flee to Ukraine, a claim vehemently denied by Ukrainian authorities. The four suspected gunmen were apprehended near the border on Saturday, with their nationalities yet to be disclosed.
The Russian Investigative Committee confirmed the death toll at 137, including three children, with 62 bodies identified. Genetic examinations are underway to establish the identities of the remaining victims, a process that may take weeks.
Ukraine dismissed the accusations as a 'planned provocation' by the Kremlin to stoke anti-Ukrainian sentiments and mobilize Russian citizens against Ukraine.
Amaq released a video purportedly showing the attack, suggesting a direct link between the perpetrators and ISIS. The investigation into the crime scene is ongoing, with molecular genetic examinations possibly required in some cases.
