Moscow — A Moscow court on Thursday convicted 19 people of involvement in a 2024 shooting at a Moscow concert hall that killed 149 people and injured more than 600 in the capital’s deadliest attack in years.
A faction of the Islamic State group has claimed responsibility for the March 22, 2024 massacre at the Crocus City Hall concert venue. Authorities said four gunmen, identified as citizens of Tajikistan, shot people waiting for a performance by a popular rock band and then set fire to the building.
All 19 defendants were given lengthy prison sentences: 15 were given life sentences, one was given 22 1/2 years and three were given 19 years and 11 months.
According to the verdict, those with life sentences will serve part of them in prison and the rest in special administrative penal settlements.
They were ordered to pay fines ranging from 500,000 rubles (about $6,300) to 2.7 million rubles ($34,000).
In August 2025, a trial on terrorism charges began in a military court and was held behind closed doors by authorities citing security concerns. Three military court judges presided.
President Vladimir Putin and other Russian officials have said Ukraine had a role in the attack, without presenting evidence. Kyiv has strongly denied any involvement.
The Investigative Committee, Russia’s top criminal investigation agency, said the attack was “planned and carried out in the interests of the current leadership of Ukraine in order to destabilize the political situation in our country.”
It also noted that four suspected gunmen tried to flee to Ukraine. He was arrested hours after the attack and then brought to a Moscow court with signs of severe beatings.
Among those tried alongside him are three who sold a car to the suspected gunmen, a man from whom he rented an apartment and 10 others accused of terrorist ties, independent Russian news site Mediazona said.
(Tags to be translated)Military and Defense(T)Shootings(T)General News(T)Courts(T)Invasion(T)World News(T)Article(T)130992385
