Terror Strikes Moscow: Hearing Commences amidst Tragic Loss of Over 140 Lives
Moscow Concert Hall Attack: No Solid Evidence of Ukrainian Involvement
Moscow, Russia - A trial against 19 defendants, including four suspected attackers and 15 alleged accomplices, has begun in Moscow over the Islamic terrorist attack at the Crocus City Hall concert venue. The attack, which took place on March 22, 2024, left 149 people dead and over 330 injured, according to Russian media reports.
Russia has accused the alleged Ukrainian masterminds of planning and executing the attack with the intention of destabilizing Russia’s political situation. However, no publicly available, verifiable evidence has been presented to support these claims. Kyiv has strongly denied any involvement in the attack.
The alleged perpetrators of the attack were four gunmen from the Central Asian republic of Tajikistan, linked to the Islamic State (IS). During the trial, the defendants have been held in glass cages, with some pleading guilty and expressing remorse for their actions, while others have claimed innocence.
The attackers opened fire on concertgoers of the Russian rock group Piknik and set the building on fire, causing part of it to collapse. Russian authorities suspect the IS affiliate Islamic State - Khorasan Province (ISKP) to be behind the attack.
The trial was declared closed at the request of the prosecution, citing security concerns. Three cells of the ISKP have been formed in Russia, according to investigations. Six more suspected individuals, including the alleged organizers, are still at large.
Many of the bereaved and injured require psychological assistance following the horrific attack. The criminal trial was announced but its start was kept secret until Sunday, and the proceedings were later moved from a military court chamber to the Moscow City Court.
The number of fatalities reported in Russian media varies, with Tass reporting 149 deaths and one missing person, and Interfax reporting 147 deaths and 3 missing. Half of the victims did not die from gunshot wounds, but from burn injuries.
In conclusion, while Russia accuses alleged Ukrainian masterminds and bases its case on the suspects’ attempt to flee to Ukraine and alleged destabilization motives, there is no publicly available, verifiable evidence supporting Ukraine’s direct involvement in the Moscow concert hall attack at this time.
The trial in Moscow, involving defendants accused of the Islamic terrorist attack at the Crocus City Hall, includes charges related to general-news events and crime-and-justice issues. Despite Russia's accusations of Ukrainian masterminds, no solid evidence of Ukrainian involvement in the Moscow concert hall attack has been presented to the public.
