The day after the tragic Moscow attack that claimed the lives of 133 people at the Crocus City Hall concert, the city is observing a solemn day of mourning.

The day after the tragic Moscow attack that claimed the lives of 133 people at the Crocus City Hall concert, the city is observing a solemn day of mourning.

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Russia is coming together to honor a day of mourning following the tragic loss of at least 133 lives during an attack at a crowded concert venue in Moscow on Friday evening.

Flags are lowered to half-mast across the nation, numerous events have been called off, and television programs have been rescheduled to reflect this somber occasion.

Over 140 individuals were also wounded when assailants stormed into the Crocus City Hall, shooting without discrimination before igniting a fire.

The Islamic State (IS) group has claimed responsibility for this devastating assault.

On Saturday, Amaq, the media outlet affiliated with IS, shared an image purportedly showing the four masked individuals linked to the assault. Russia has yet to respond to IS's assertion.

The group later published extremely graphic footage of the attack. This video, confirmed as authentic by the BBC, depicts one of the gunmen indiscriminately firing at innocent people. The BBC has decided not to air this distressing footage.

Russian President Vladimir Putin announced that all four perpetrators of the attack have been apprehended. During his televised speech on Saturday, Mr. Putin condemned the atrocity—the deadliest in Russia in almost two decades—as a "barbaric terrorist act." He also echoed earlier claims by Russian security services that the assailants may have attempted to flee to Ukraine.

In response, Kyiv dismissed any suggestion of involvement in the attack as "absurd."

Andriy Yusov, a spokesperson for the Ukrainian military intelligence directorate, dismissed the notion that the suspects were heading to Ukraine, saying it would imply they were either foolish or suicidal, in an interview with the BBC.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky directly criticized Russian President Vladimir Putin, accusing him of trying to shift blame onto Ukraine for the attack. Zelensky condemned Putin's delayed response and stated, "Instead of addressing his own citizens' concerns in Russia, Putin remained silent for a day, plotting how to implicate Ukraine."

BBC Verify conducted an investigation that linked two of the alleged attackers seen in the IS video and a still image released by IS to videos of suspects arrested, which were shared on pro-Kremlin Telegram channels.

The US National Security Council disclosed that it had warned Russia about a potential IS attack targeting large gatherings such as concerts in Moscow earlier in the month. The Kremlin dismissed these warnings as "propaganda" and an attempt by the US to interfere in Russian affairs, particularly after recent elections.

On Saturday, the White House condemned the brutal attack and reiterated that IS remains a global terrorist threat that must be defeated everywhere.

At approximately 8:00 PM local time (5:00 PM GMT) on Friday, reports emerged of a grave incident unfolding within Crocus City Hall, situated in Moscow's Krasnogorsk suburb.

The venue was packed with around 6,200 attendees who had gathered for a Friday night rock concert featuring the veteran band Picnic when the gunfire erupted.

A video circulating online captured several individuals briskly moving across the concourse, initiating gunfire towards the public, before reloading and entering the hall.

Terrified screams and scenes of chaos unfolded as the assailants entered, with crowds of people seen running frantically for safety. Some sought refuge behind their seats as the attackers fired shots into the auditorium.

Some attendees attempted to escape the gunmen by seeking refuge in different areas of the building - some believed to have fled to the basement, while others sought safety on the roof.

Anastasia Rodionova, who was at the concert, vividly remembered the chaos: "They were calmly walking and shooting everyone in a methodical manner. The sound was bouncing off the walls, making it hard to understand what was happening."

Vitaly, who witnessed the attack from a balcony, recounted, "They threw Molotov cocktails, and suddenly everything was engulfed in flames."

Outside the venue, thick smoke billowed into the sky, indicating the severity of the situation. Eventually, a fire erupted, consuming a significant portion of the hall's roof and facade. Reports from Tass state news agency indicated that approximately a third of the building had been set ablaze.

Additional reports described explosions that were powerful enough to shatter the glass on the top two floors of the building.

Following the attack, several specialized forces swiftly moved in to secure the venue, accompanied by medical teams and a fleet of ambulances rushing to provide assistance. Meanwhile, helicopters circled overhead, attempting to quell the flames from the air.

The Russian Investigative Committee revealed that the assailants utilized a flammable substance to ignite parts of the concert hall. The tragic deaths of the victims resulted from both gunshot wounds and exposure to toxic fumes from the fire.

On Saturday, a heartfelt tribute emerged outside the concert hall, where locals lit candles and placed flowers in memory of the victims. Many also lined up to donate blood in support of those affected by the tragedy.

Throughout Moscow and various towns and cities, electronic billboards displayed a poignant symbol - a solitary burning candle alongside the word "Skorbim," signifying a unified expression of mourning and solidarity.