Russia sentences 15 to life in prison for concert hall attack

March 12 (UPI) -- Russia sentenced 15 people to life in prison on Thursday for their involvement in a mass shooting at a concert hall that killed 149 people.

Four people who stormed Crocus City Hall in Krasnogorsk, Russia, and 11 accomplices were given life sentences, TASS Russian News Agency reported. Four more received sentences of more than 19 years in a penal colony.

The Russian military court found that Shamsidin Fariduni, Dalerjon Mirzoyev, Muhammadsobir Fayzov, and Saidakrami Rachabalizoda opened fire in the concert hall and attacked people with knives before setting the building ablaze on March 22, 2024.

The four shooters were identified as citizens of Tajikistan.

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There were a total of 1,700 victims of the attack and more than 600 people were injured. About 6,000 people were in attendance for a concert.

The concert hall is on the outskirts of Moscow.

After the shooting, the attackers attempted to flee to Ukraine before being apprehended in the Bryansk region, investigators said. It is alleged that two of the shooters were "acting in the interests of the highest political leadership of Ukraine," and are "part of the international terrorist organization Islamic State."

At least one of the alleged gunmen showed visible signs of being beaten when he made his initial court appearance on March 24, 2024.

The Russian court has not provided evidence that the attack was linked to Ukraine. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky called Russia blaming the attack on Ukraine "absolutely predictable."

The 11 accomplices sentenced to life were found guilty of aiding in the attack by providing money and weapons or being linked to terrorist organizations.

IS-K, a branch of the terrorist group Islamic State, claimed responsibility for the attack.

Historic March moments through the years

Founder of the Women's Tennis Association and tennis great Billie Jean King (C) smiles with representatives after speaking during an annual Women's History Month event in celebration of the 50th anniversary of Title IX in Statuary Hall at the U.S .Capitol in Washington on March 9, 2022. Women's History Month is celebrated every March. Photo by Bonnie Cash/UPI | License Photo