New Delhi, March 25: Russian authorities brought four men to court on charges of attacking a Moscow concert hall, resulting in the deaths of 140 people.
All four suspects appeared in Basmanny district court in Moscow, with one of them in a wheelchair, indicating signs of physical abuse reported by BBC. They are facing charges of committing an act of terrorism.
BBC released video footage and images of the suspects being brought to court. Additionally, leaked interrogation session videos by Russian security forces.
The four terrorists are Identified as Dalerdzhon Mirzoyev, Saidakrami Murodali Rachabalizoda, Shamsidin Fariduni, and Muhammadsobir Fayzov, the suspects were named by Russian authorities belonging to Tajikistan.
A court statement via Telegram indicated that Mirzoyev confessed to his guilt, while Rachabalizoda also admitted involvement. The suspects, identified as Tajikistan citizens, will remain in pre-trial detention until at least May 22, according to the court.
The Islamic State group (IS) claimed responsibility for the attack at Crocus City Hall, posting graphic video evidence of the assailants firing upon the concert hall crowd, which BBC verified as authentic.
Amidst allegations of Ukrainian involvement, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov refrained from commenting until the investigation’s completion, citing tense international relations hindering collaboration in counter-terrorism efforts.
President Macron of France raised the country’s terror alert level, citing recent IS threats targeting France.
Rescuers are still searching for victims amidst the concert hall rubble, with operations ongoing. Peskov declined to address allegations of torture against the suspects.
The attack occurred when four gunmen stormed the Crocus City Hall during a rock concert, resulting in 140 fatalities and over 100 injuries. The suspects were apprehended in the Bryansk region, around 400 km southwest of Moscow, approximately 14 hours after the attack.
Russian officials suggested Ukrainian assistance to the attackers, a claim dismissed by Ukrainian President Zelensky and US officials, who attributed sole responsibility to IS. Seven others have been arrested in Russia for suspected involvement in aiding the attack.
Earlier alerts from the US warned of potential attacks on large gatherings in Russia, although Kremlin officials dismissed them as propaganda. Western intelligence agencies suspect the IS Khorasan branch (Isis-K) of orchestrating the attack, primarily operating in Afghanistan and Central Asia.