Russia observed national mourning on Sunday (March 24th) for the victims killed in an attack on a concert hall on the outskirts of Moscow.
Russia's Investigative Committee announced on Sunday that 137 bodies had been recovered from Crocus City Hall, where Friday's mass shooting took place. The New York Times References.
“The whole country, our whole people, mourns with you,” Putin said he said the country's deadliest terrorist attack in 20 years. He also vowed to punish those responsible for the violence. “The main thing now is to prevent those behind this bloody massacre from committing new crimes,” he added.
The Islamic State group's affiliate in Afghanistan claimed responsibility for the deadly attack, a claim confirmed by US intelligence officials. But Russian state news broadcasts put the blame on Ukraine, which is currently at war with Russia. Ukraine has denied any involvement, according to the Times.
Putin did not take sides in his address to the country.
“We know what the threat of terrorism is,” he said. “We rely here on cooperation with all countries that really share our pain and are ready, by their actions, to really join efforts in the fight against the common enemy of international terrorism.”
On Saturday (March 23rd), Russian authorities arrested four men suspected of the Krasnogorsk concert hall attack. Putin claimed they were captured while fleeing to Ukraine Associated Press References. The Russian president said authorities arrested a total of 11 people in the attack.
The company that owns Crocus City Hall has reportedly pledged to rebuild everything that was destroyed in the attack. The Times References that the venue had more than $100 million in damages.
from our partners at https://www.billboard.com/music/music-news/russia-national-day-mourning-moscow-concert-hall-terrorist-attack-1235640274/