Moscow attack: Russia charges four men with act of terrorism

Russia has charged four men in connection with the recent attack in a Moscow concert hall that killed at least 137 people, according to a media report.

The men were arrested after 14 hours of the attack in the Bryansk region which is around 400km (250 miles) south west of Moscow, Russia's Federal Security Service (FSB) said.

The Islamic State group, or IS, stating that it was carried out by a branch known as the Islamic State in Khorasan, or IS-K and posted video evidence. IS-K chiefly operates in Afghanistan and parts of Central Asia and its name is based on an old term for the region.

The dastardly attack took place on Friday night at the Crocus City Hall where 6,000 people were attending a rock concert, claiming at least 137 live and injuring several others.

The four were named by Russian authorities as Dalerdzhon Mirzoyev, Saidakrami Murodali Rachabalizoda, Shamsidin Fariduni and Muhammadsobir Fayzov, reported BBC.
All four accused have been charged with the act of terrorism and appeared in court on Sunday. Three were marched bent double into a Moscow court while the fourth was in a wheelchair, reported the BBC.

The men appeared visibly beaten. Videos of brutal interrogation sessions were apparently leaked by Russian security forces, and reports suggest at least one had suffered electric shocks, the BBC report said.

Despite IS taking sole responsibility for the attack, Russia pointed fingers at Ukraine for its involvement in attack. The men were identified as citizens of Tajikistan, Russia's state news agency Tass said.

Earlier, Tajikistan foreign ministry denied any involvement of the country's citizens in the attack. All four are to be held in pre-trial detention until at least 22 May, the court added.