Russian President Vladimir Putin is meeting government and security officials to probe Friday’s terror attack at the Crocus Hall on the outskirts of Moscow.
Gunmen dressed in camouflage stormed the venue and opened fire on concertgoers. The building was then set alight. At least 137 people were killed and around 100 wounded.
Thousands of fans had gathered inside the venue for a performance by a local rock band. The concert hall has a capacity of more than 6,000.
Putin wants to know how his security agencies failed to thwart the attack – despite warnings from the USA.
The Kremlin remains confident however in the country’s security forces. Four suspects are in police custody and face terror charges.
The Islamic State has reportedly claimed responsibility for the attack, but Putin and other senior Russian officials have not commented on these claims.
Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov has told reporters “The investigation is still ongoing. No coherent version has yet been voiced”, adding “We are talking only about preliminary data. No version has been put forward yet”.
Search and rescue teams continue to dig through rubble at the Crocus Hall and there are fears the death toll could rise.
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