The casualty count in the terrorist assault at Moscow's Crocus City Hall has surged to 137 individuals, encompassing three children, as conveyed by Russia's Investigative Committee on Sunday, while the quest persists for bodies amidst the debris.
Russian President Vladimir Putin was briefed on Saturday regarding the detention of four alleged assailants linked to the attack, apprehended near Russia's western border with Ukraine, as reported by Russian news agencies.
State news outlets indicated that seven additional suspects have been apprehended, with an ongoing probe to identify any remaining collaborators.
ISIS has claimed accountability for the fatal assault on Friday evening, during which gunmen targeted attendees of a concert at one of Moscow's premier entertainment complexes before igniting the venue.
Earlier, unverified images circulated by Russian media purportedly showcased a vehicle associated with the attackers near the nation's western border. A Russian Member of Parliament disclosed that at least two suspects were apprehended following a vehicular pursuit and gunfire exchange, though these accounts await official verification.
Investigators confirmed the updated death toll on Sunday, highlighting that among the deceased are three minors. The efforts to recover bodies trapped beneath the wreckage persist, with authorities warning of a potentially significant rise in casualties. The regional governor disclosed that 121 individuals remain hospitalized.
At the crime scene, investigators discovered over 500 rounds of ammunition, along with 28 magazines and two Kalashnikov assault rifles.
Initial findings indicate that fatalities resulted from gunshot injuries and inhalation of toxic fumes, as stated by the Investigative Committee.
"The assailants employed automatic firearms during the assault, and both the firearms and the munitions they abandoned were located and confiscated by investigative authorities," the statement elaborated.
Furthermore, the statement elucidated, "The perpetrators utilized combustible substances to ignite the concert hall premises, where attendees, including those injured, were present."
Putin made his first public remarks regarding the assault on Saturday, vowing to mete out "retribution" against all implicated parties.
While refraining from acknowledging the ISIS assertion regarding the attack, Putin asserted that Russia is still in the investigative phase. However, he insinuated potential culpability on Ukraine's part, indicating that the apprehended suspects were intercepted attempting to cross the Ukrainian border and suggesting they might have received assistance from that direction.
"Based on preliminary information, there were arrangements made for border crossing from the Ukrainian side," Putin stated.
Ukrainian officials categorically rejected any involvement and cautioned that the Kremlin might exploit the attack to falsely implicate Ukraine, aiming to garner increased backing for its conflict efforts.
Putin's comments followed several statements by some leading Kremlin figures directly accusing Ukraine and Western countries of being behind the attack, despite the ISIS claim.
The U.S. said it shared intelligence with Russia that warned that ISIS was preparing similar attacks on concerts in Moscow just two weeks ago. A U.S. State Department official said Saturday that the U.S. government had shared information on a possible attack with Russian authorities in accordance with its longstanding "duty to warn" policy.
The U.S. Embassy in Moscow issued a warning on March 7, advising U.S. citizens to avoid large gatherings for 48 hours, saying extremists have "imminent plans" to target large-scale gatherings in Moscow.
"The United States strongly condemns yesterday's deadly terrorist attack in Moscow," Secretary of State Antony Blinken said in a statement Saturday. "We send our deepest condolences to the families and loved ones of those killed and all affected by this heinous crime. We condemn terrorism in all its forms and stand in solidarity with the people of Russia in grieving the loss of life from this horrific event."
Ambassador to the United States Anatoly Antonov said the U.S. didn't pass along any "concrete information" prior to the attack.
"Nothing was passed," Antonov told Russian state news agency TASS while answering a question about whether any information was handed over by the U.S. side before the terrorist act.
He added, "No concrete information, nothing was transferred to us."
