Moscow Terror Attack refers to the terrorist attack on Crocus City Hall in Krasnogorsk, Moscow Oblast, Russia, on 22 March 2024. Gunmen attacked people at the concert venue before setting parts of the building on fire. The attack killed more than 140 people and injured hundreds.
The attack was claimed by Islamic State, with reporting and security analysis focusing on Islamic State Khorasan Province, often called IS-K or ISIS-K. Russian officials also alleged links to Ukraine, a claim denied by Ukraine and not supported by the public evidence cited by Western governments.
Attack
The attack happened shortly before a concert by the Russian rock band Picnic. Armed men entered Crocus City Hall, fired on civilians and used incendiary devices that caused a major fire.
Initial reports gave lower casualty figures, but the death toll later rose. AP reported in 2025 that 149 people had been killed and more than 600 injured. Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty reported in 2026 that the attack killed 149 people when covering later sentencing.
Responsibility
Islamic State claimed responsibility soon after the attack. The claim was associated with its Khorasan branch. United States officials also said intelligence indicated Islamic State responsibility.
Russian President Vladimir Putin described the attack as terrorism and later said it was carried out by radical Islamists. Russian officials also tried to connect the attack to Ukraine. Ukraine denied involvement.
Arrests and Trial
Russian authorities detained multiple suspects after the attack, including four men accused of carrying out the shooting. The suspects appeared in court showing visible injuries, which led to international concern about possible torture or mistreatment.
In August 2025, AP reported that the trial of 19 defendants had begun under heavy security. In March 2026, Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty reported that a Russian military court sentenced 15 men to life imprisonment, while four other defendants received terms of 19 to 22 years.
Security Context
The attack became one of the deadliest terrorist attacks in modern Russian history. It also raised questions about security warnings, public venues, Islamic State activity and Russia's domestic counter-terrorism system.
The United States had warned of possible extremist attacks on large gatherings in Moscow earlier in March 2024. Russian officials later criticised outside discussion of those warnings while continuing to pursue their own investigation.
Memorials
Public memorials and flowers were placed near Crocus City Hall and Russian diplomatic sites. A memorial was unveiled near the venue on the first anniversary of the attack.
See Also
References
- AP News: Trial begins for suspects in 2024 Moscow concert hall attack that killed 149 people
- OHCHR: UN experts condemn terrorist attack on Russian concert hall
- U.S. Mission to the OSCE: On the terrorist attack at Crocus City Hall
- Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty: Russia sentences men over 2024 Moscow terror attack
- Al Jazeera: Suspects in Moscow concert hall attack face trial
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