Russia holds a day of mourning

FAMILY and friends of those still missing after the attack that killed more than 130 people at a Moscow concert hall waited for news of their loved ones as Russia observed a day of national mourning yesterday.

Events at cultural institutions were cancelled, flags were lowered and TV entertainment and ads were suspended, according to state news agency RIA Novosti. A steady stream of people took flowers to a makeshift memorial near the Crocus City Hall music venue.

The attack, which has been claimed by an affiliate of the so- called Islamic State, is the deadliest on Russian soil in years.

As rescuers continue to search the damaged building, some families still do not know if members who went to the event targeted by gunmen on Friday are alive.

Igor Pogadaev was desperately seeking any details of his wife’s whereabouts after she went to the concert and stopped responding to his messages.

He has not seen a message from

Yana Pogadaeva since she sent her husband two photos from the venue. As the death toll mounted on Saturday, Pogadaev scoured hospitals looking for information on newly- admitted patients.

His wife was not among the 154 reported injured, nor on the list of 50 of the 133 fatalities who authorities have already identified, he said. The Moscow region’s emergency situations ministry posted a video yesterday showing equipment dismantling the damaged music venue to give rescuers access.

Russian president Vladimir Putin appeared to be trying to tie Ukraine to the attack, something its government firmly denies.