Sunday was designated as a national day of mourning in Russia since the attack at the Moscow music hall claimed more than 130 lives, and many citizens were still waiting to hear from loved ones who had vanished.
According to Russian official news cited by the Associated Press, events at cultural institutions were called off on Sunday, flags were flown at half-staff, and television entertainment and advertising were halted.According to the AP, many people flocked to the performance theater, carrying teddy bears and flowers as a way to remember the deaths and to create an improvised memorial.
The city of Moscow faced its bloodiest terrorist attack in almost a decade two days before to the day of mourning. Multiple gunmen opened fire into a packed music hall in Moscow, killing at least 137 people, according to the most recent death toll.
The camera footage from the performance venue appears to show three assailants with automatic weapons, dressed in camouflage, according to the Russian Federal Security Service.
According to the AP, which quoted a U.S. intelligence official on Saturday, the Islamic State claimed responsibility for the attack on Friday, and U.S. agencies have verified that the Islamic State was the cause of the incident.
Four of the 11 persons apprehended, according to Russian police, were directly involved in the incident. President Vladimir Putin of Russia has attempted to attribute the attack to Ukraine, a claim that Ukrainian and American officials vehemently refute.
Rescuers were still looking for bodies on Sunday because some families were unsure about their loved ones’ status.
According to the AP, Moscow’s Department of Health announced on Sunday that it has begun using DNA testing to identify the remains of those who have died. This process will take at least two weeks.
Authorities had already identified 50 victims as of Sunday. Additionally, 154 injuries were reported.