Five new suspects implicated in the tragic March attack at Moscow’s Crocus City Hall are now facing trial on charges of terrorism and weapons possession, as revealed by the city’s court system on Thursday.
Following the attack on March 22 that resulted in 145 fatalities and numerous injuries, which marked the deadliest assault in Europe in the last 20 years, over 20 individuals, including four alleged gunmen, were apprehended. The Islamic State affiliate, ISIS-K, claimed responsibility for the heinous act.
The Basmanny District Court in Moscow disclosed the identities of the five new defendants, extending their pre-trial detention until December 1. They have been charged with involvement in a terrorist organization, perpetrating a terrorist attack, and trafficking weapons and explosives.
In May, the Baza Telegram news channel, reportedly connected to Russia’s security services, reported that an investigation into the Crocus City Hall attack had uncovered five additional suspects from Tajikistan who had not been previously named.
The men were named as Shakhomdzhon Gadoyev, Zubaydullo Ismailov, Mustakime Soliev, Umedzhon Soliev, and Husein Khamidov. Images released by the Moscow court depicted the five suspects standing in a glass defendant’s enclosure in the courtroom.