Russia on Thursday sentenced 15 men – including four gunmen – to life in prison over the Crocus concert hall attack in Moscow that left 150 people dead, the deadliest onslaught in Russia in more than two decades.

Relatives of some of the victims in the March 22, 2024, attack – claimed by Islamic State (IS) – stood in the grand Moscow military court as the verdict was read out.

Shamsidin Fariduni, Dalerdzhon Mirzoyev, Makhammadsobir Fayzov and Saidakrami Rachabolizoda – all Tajik citizens who went on a shooting spree in the building before setting it on fire – looked down as the judge sentenced them to life.

Eleven other men – some Russian citizens – were also jailed for life for acting as accomplices and of having terrorist links.

Four more men – including a father and his sons – were handed sentences of between 19 and 22 years over their links with the men.

The attack in the Moscow suburbs was Russia's worst since the 2004 Beslan school siege.

The gunmen entered the concert hall shortly before a concert by Soviet-era rock band Picnic. They then set fire to the building, trapping many victims. The attack wounded more than 600 people. Six children were among those killed. (AFP)



Edited by Thomas McAlinden