MOSCOW: In the worst attack on Russian soil in 20 years, Russia prosecuted four men and reduced flags to half-mast for a day of mourning. The attack occurred on Friday night at a concert outside of Moscow.
Sunday was designated as a national day of mourning by President Vladimir Putin, who also promised to punish those responsible for the attack, which left 182 people injured and 137 people dead, including three children.
More than a hundred patients were still in the hospital, some of them had serious illnesses. In a video recorded on Sunday night, Putin could be seen lighting a candle at the church at his home outside of Moscow in remembrance of those who have passed away.
Ahead of the Soviet-era rock group Picnic’s performance of their hit song “Afraid of Nothing” on Sunday, four armed men broke into the 6,200-seat concert hall south of Moscow, and those inside erected flowers. The civilians collapsed, screaming, and the men opened fire with short bursts from their automatic rifles.
Though Putin has not made reference to the extremist group in relation to the attackers—who he stated were attempting to flee to Ukraine—Daesh has taken credit for the incident. According to him, there were some on “the Ukrainian side” who were ready to smuggle the shooters over the border.
Ukraine has refuted having any part in the assault.
