The four arrested accused of carrying out Friday’s terror attack at the Crocus City Hall concert hall on the outskirts of Moscow, in which 137 people were killed, have been remanded in custody for two months by a court in the Russian capital.
The court remanded them in custody until May 22, pending their trial, the start of which has not yet been set. Therefore, their pre-trial detention may be extended. The four accused of “terrorism” face life imprisonment.
In total, Russian authorities announced the arrest of 11 suspects in connection with the attack, including the four alleged perpetrators.
Images from the court show three of the alleged perpetrators being led in handcuffs to the special room for the accused. The fourth was transferred to a special chair, unable to open his eyes.
Two defendants have reportedly pleaded guilty: Dalerzon Mirzoev and Saidakrami Murondali Ratchabalizonda. According to the BBC, they addressed the court in Tajik with the help of an interpreter. The other two are named Samsindin Faridouni and Muhammadsobir Faizov.
Russian authorities have said the defendants are “foreign nationals,” without specifying their nationalities. Tajikistan is a former Soviet republic in Central Asia where Islam is the dominant religion.
The RIA Novosti news agency reported that one of the defendants used to work at a hair salon in the city of Ivanovo, northeast of Moscow. Another is the father of an eight-month-old infant, a factory worker in the city of Poldosk, on the outskirts of the Russian capital.
The Islamic State jihadist organization claimed responsibility for the terrorist attack.
Russian President Vladimir Putin claimed, without providing evidence, that some in Ukraine had made preparations to help terrorists cross the Russian border. Kiev has denied any involvement in the attack.
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