Crocus City Hall attack, Moscow
On the evening of 22 March 2024, gunmen in camouflage attacked Crocus City Hall in Krasnogorsk, on the north-western edge of Moscow, just before the rock group Picnic was due to perform. The BBC reported that much of the building was engulfed by fire and part of the roof collapsed. The day after the attack, Russian security services put the toll at 133 dead. The Islamic State group claimed responsibility, and a US official told the ABC that the US had intelligence confirming the claim and had warned Russia beforehand.
On 12 March 2026, Moscow's Second Western District Military Court convicted 19 people. AP reported that 15 received life sentences, one was given 22½ years and three were given 19 years and 11 months each. The four men convicted as the gunmen were identified as citizens of Tajikistan. The trial was held behind closed doors, and the BBC noted that when the men first appeared in court, two years earlier, they "showed visible signs of having been beaten". At the time of the verdict, AP and the BBC both put the death toll at 149; AP said over 600 people were wounded, while the BBC said more than 500 were injured. The BBC said IS-K, an Islamic State affiliate, admitted the attack. Russian officials claimed Ukraine was involved, which AP said they did "without presenting evidence", and Kyiv denied any involvement.
The attack was reported in Australia by the ABC.
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