Moscow court extends pretrial detention of 4 involved in attack on Crocus City concert hall

By Elena Teslova

MOSCOW (AA) – A local court in Moscow on Friday extended the pretrial detention of four people charged with the March 22 attack on the Crocus City concert hall in Russia’s capital territories.

The Basmanny Court has granted Russian authorities custody of four Tajik nationals directly involved in the killing spree, four accomplices, and 12 others accused of facilitating the attack until Aug. 22.

The court proceedings were held in-camera to protect the investigation's confidentiality.

The accused's pretrial detentions can be challenged in a higher court as per the Basmanny Court ruling.

On March 22, gunmen entered the Crocus City Hall in Krasnogorsk, Moscow Oblast, and sprayed bullets at random on innocent people, killing at least 144 and injuring more than 382. Russia has charged four people for their direct involvement in the attack.