The alleged perpetrators of the Crocus City Hall attack attend a court hearing in Moscow, 19 August 2024. Photo: EPA / YURI KOCHETKOV

The trial of 19 men accused of orchestrating the terror attack on Moscow’s Crocus City Hall concert venue in March 2024, in which 149 people lost their lives, is due to start in the Russian capital on Monday.

On trial are four alleged perpetrators and 15 alleged accomplices, all of whom have been charged with terror offences, despite having very different degrees of involvement in the attack. For example, one of the alleged accomplices owned an apartment that was rented by some of the other defendants.

The attack took place on Friday 22 March 2024 when multiple armed men entered the Crocus City Hall, an entertainment complex in suburban Moscow, and opened fire at people gathered there for a concert. Fires were set on the upper floor of the venue as the shooting continued, with several explosions being reported before the roof eventually collapsed.

Prosecutors intend to make the case that the attack was organised by Islamic State — Khorasan (IS-K), an IS affiliate, with the participation of foreign secret services and in the interests of Ukraine, according to BBC News Russian.

IS-K, which is active primarily in Afghanistan and Pakistan, claimed responsibility for the attack at the time. Kyiv has categorically denied having any involvement in the attack.

Four of the alleged perpetrators were detained the day after the attack in the Bryansk region of western Russia and charged with terror offences, while the number of detainees had risen to 10 by early April.

Another alleged member of IS-K was arrested in the United States in March and charged with organising the attack. Mohammad Sharifullah confessed to the FBI that he had taught the perpetrators of the attack to use rifles and other weapons on behalf of the IS-K leadership.

All four alleged attackers and most of the alleged accomplices are citizens of Tajikistan.