MOSCOW: Russia lowered flags to half-mast for day of mourning after scores of people were gunned down with automatic weapons at rock concert outside Moscow in deadliest attack inside Russia for two decades.

President Vladimir Putin declared national day of mourning after pledging to track down and punish all those behind attack on Friday evening, in which 137 people were killed, including three children and 180 were injured.

Over 100 people remained in hospital, some of them in serious condition. Putin lit candle at church at his residence outside Moscow to honour those who died, his spokesman told Interfax news agency.

“I express my deep, sincere condolences to all those who lost their loved ones,” Putin said in an address to nation.

Da’ish claimed responsibility for attack, but Putin has not publicly mentioned Islamist militant group in connection with attackers, who he said had been trying to escape to Ukraine. He asserted that some on “Ukrainian side” had been prepared to spirit gunmen across border.

Published in The Daily National Courier, March, 25 2024

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