A Russian military court sentenced nineteen people to prison for their roles in the Moscow concert hall attack. The attack killed 149 people. Injured more than 500.
- Four gunmen who carried out the attack and 11 accomplices who helped them got life sentences from a military court.
- Four other defendants got prison terms ranging from 19 to 22 years. They helped the attackers.
The incident happened on 22 March 2024 at Crocus City Concert Hall in Krasnogorsk. Experts consider it the deadliest mass shooting in Russia in the past two decades. The attack started when armed men entered the concert venue. About 6,000 people had gathered for a rock concert. The gunmen started shooting at the crowd. They set parts of the building on fire. The flames spread quickly. The roof eventually collapsed. Many victims died from gunshot wounds. Others lost their lives due to smoke inhalation. The four main attackers were all citizens of Tajikistan.
Investigators said the others who got life sentences helped the attack. They provided money, weapons or connections to groups. Four additional people were convicted. They sold a car to the attackers. Helped them rent an apartment before the attack.
The court held the trial behind closed doors. Authorities have not yet confirmed whether the convicted individuals will appeal their sentences. When the suspects first appeared in court two years ago, some showed clear signs that police had beaten them. Officials brought one man into the courtroom in a wheelchair. This situation raised concerns that authorities may have forced the confessions under pressure.
IS-K, an affiliate of the Islamic State group, claimed responsibility for the attack and released video footage. It showed the attackers firing into the crowd inside the concert hall. The BBC verified it as authentic. Despite IS-K claiming responsibility for the attack, Russian officials still accused Ukraine of involvement. Know More
However, no evidence has been presented to support these claims. Meanwhile, Ukraine strongly denied any involvement. Furthermore, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said it was “absolutely predictable” that Russian President Vladimir Putin would try to blame Ukraine for the incident.
