Trial Begins for Terror Attack in Moscow Resulting in Over 140 Deaths

A military court in Russia has commenced proceedings against the alleged perpetrators of a devastating terrorist attack that occurred over a year ago, resulting in more than 140 fatalities. The attack, which took place at the Crocus City Hall in Krasnogorsk, just outside Moscow, involved armed assailants who opened fire on concertgoers during a performance by the rock band Piknik.

The trial is currently underway in a publicly accessible session at the Moscow City Court, although it was later closed to the public for security reasons, as reported by the state news agency Tass. The court is hearing the cases of 19 defendants linked to the attack, while attempts by victim's lawyers to keep the hearings open to the public were unsuccessful.

According to the prosecutor's office, the assault occurred on March 22, 2024, when four gunmen entered the venue, firing indiscriminately and igniting a fire that led to part of the building collapsing. The number of fatalities reported varies, with Tass citing 149 deaths and one missing person, while Interfax reported 147 deaths and three missing. In addition, over 330 individuals sustained injuries during the incident.

The attackers, identified as originating from Tajikistan, fled the scene in a vehicle but were apprehended shortly afterward in the Bryansk region of Russia, close to the borders with Ukraine and Belarus. Upon capture, they were publicly displayed by Russian authorities, with reports indicating that at least one suspect showed signs of having been tortured. The accomplices, also from former Soviet Central Asia, allegedly provided the attackers with financial support, vehicles, and weapons, or sheltered them. Authorities are still searching for six other suspects linked to the plot.

Russia has faced multiple Islamic terrorist attacks over the past few decades, and the Islamic State (IS) has claimed responsibility for the Crocus City Hall attack via its communication channels. Western security agencies have deemed this claim credible, attributing the incident to the Islamic State's Khorasan Province (ISKP) affiliate.

While Russian officials, including President Vladimir Putin, have acknowledged the attack as an IS operation, there has been an ongoing narrative from the authorities attempting to implicate alleged Ukrainian operatives in the planning of the assault. Russia has been engaged in an aggressive military campaign against Ukraine for nearly three and a half years. However, concrete evidence supporting these claims has not been presented, and the Ukrainian government has categorically denied any involvement.

According to Tass, the Russian General Prosecutor's Office now contends that the attack was orchestrated with the interests of senior Ukrainian leadership in mind, asserting that three cells of the Islamic State's Khorasan Province have been established within Russia.

Reports indicate that at least 115 victims are participating as plaintiffs in the ongoing trial. The General Prosecutor's Office has previously disclosed to Tass details from the indictment, revealing that approximately half of the deceased victims succumbed to burn injuries rather than gunfire. Although the trial had been announced earlier, the specific start date was kept confidential until the last moment.