“The Main Investigation Department of the Investigative Committee of Russia concluded the investigation of the criminal case for the terrorist act executed on March 22, 2024, which resulted in the death of 146 people,” Petrenko told reporters.

The defendants are members of the Afghan wing of the Islamic State of Greater Khorasan, their accomplices and those who armed the terrorists.

They all face charges of various crimes, including carrying out a terrorist act, collaboration and training for terrorist purposes, participation in a terrorist organization, as well as illegal possession of weapons, explosives and forgery of migration documents, he said.

The criminal case against the 19 accused was sent to the Prosecutor’s Office for transfer to the court, while the preliminary investigation against two organizers and four participants of the terrorist organization continues.

According to the investigation, the attack “was committed in the interests of the current leadership of Ukraine with the aim of destabilizing the political situation” in Russia.

The investigation suggests that preparation began months before the attack and that several of the defendants arrived from abroad after receiving initial training.

In addition, it was discovered that some of the defendants planned to commit a second attack at an entertainment center in the Russian republic of Dagestan, a crime that was foiled by Russian security forces, Petrenko revealed.

On March 22, 2024, a gunmen comando shot into a crowd gathered for a rock concert at Crocus City Hall in northwest Moscow and set fire to the venue, killing 146 people and injuring more than 550 others.

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