Three suspected participants in the Crocus City Hall terrorist attack have been charged with planning another attack, TASS reports, citing case materials.
The investigation alleges that they intended to carry out the attack using homemade explosives. As a result, they are now facing charges for preparing a terrorist act and the illegal production of an explosive device by an organized group.
Additionally, four other defendants in the Crocus City Hall case are being charged with involvement in the activities of the banned terrorist group "Wilayat-e Khorasan," which is part of ISIS.
According to TASS, these individuals were responsible for manufacturing homemade explosives and weapons for the group.
Two more criminal proceedings have been instituted against them for the illegal trafficking of firearms and ammunition, as well as for the illegal production of an explosive device, all committed by an organized group.
The agency has not disclosed which specific individuals in the Crocus City Hall case have been charged with these new accusations.
The terrorist attack was carried out at the Crocus City Hall concert venue in Krasnogorsk, Moscow oblast on March 22, 2024.
The attack began at around 20:00 MSK, shortly before the Russian band Picnic was scheduled to play a sold-out show at the venue. Four gunmen reportedly carried out a mass shooting, as well as slashing attacks on the people gathered at the venue, and used incendiary devices to set the venue on fire.
Investigators said the attack had killed 144 people (including those who died later in hospital), and more than 551 concertgoers were injured by gunshot wounds and fire-related injuries.
On the morning of March 23, four suspects were arrested in Russia's Bryansk oblast: Dalerjon Mirzoyev, Saidakram Rajabalizoda, Faridoun Shamsiddin, and Muhammadsobir Faizov.
Later, seven more alleged accomplices were detained, including Aminjon and Dilovar Islomov, their father Isroil Islomov, as well as Alisher Kasimov, Lutfulloi Nazirmad, Yoqubjon Yusufzoda, and Muhammad Sharifzoda.
In total, according to Alexander Bortnikov, Director of Russia’s Federal Security Service (FSB), over 20 people connected to the attack have been arrested; most of them are from Tajikistan.
