Trial begins for suspects in Moscow concert hall attack that killed 149 people

A trial has begun for 19 defendants accused of involvement in last year’s shooting rampage in a Moscow concert hall that killed 149 people and wounded more than 600 others.

A faction of the Islamic State group claimed responsibility for the March 22 incident at the Crocus City Hall concert venue in which four gunmen shot people who were waiting for a show by a popular rock band and then set the building on fire.

President Vladimir Putin and other Russian officials have claimed, without presenting evidence, that Ukraine had a role in the attack.

Kyiv has strongly denied any involvement.

The Investigative Committee, Russia’s top criminal investigation agency, said in June that it concluded that the attack had been “planned and carried out in the interests of the current leadership of Ukraine in order to destabilise political situation in our country”.

It also noted the four suspected gunmen tried to flee to Ukraine afterwards.

The four, all identified as citizens of Tajikistan, were arrested hours after the attack and later appeared in a Moscow court with signs of being severely beaten.

The committee said earlier this year that six other suspects were charged in absentia and placed on Russia’s wanted list for allegedly recruiting and organising the training of the four.

Other defendants in the trial were accused of helping them.