Moscow [Russia], March 26: Four men accused of gunning down scores of people at a concert outside the Russian capital, Moscow, have been charged with terrorism after appearing in a courtroom showing signs of severe beating.
The charges late on Sunday came as Russia lowered flags to half-mast for a day of mourning over the deadliest attack inside the country for two decades.
At least 137 people, including three children, were killed in the ISIL (ISIS) claimed attack. Another 182 people were wounded and health officials say some 40 of them were in "critical" or "extremely critical" condition.
Moscow's Basmanny District Court identified the four suspects behind the attack as Dalerdzhon Mirzoyev, 32; Saidakrami Rachabalizoda, 30; Shamsidin Fariduni, 25; and Mukhammadsobir Faizov, 19.
The men - all of whom are citizens of Tajikistan - were charged with committing a group terrorist attack resulting in the death of others. The offence carries a maximum sentence of life imprisonment.
They were all ordered held in pre-trial custody until May 22. The Associated Press news agency, citing court officials, said Mirzoyev and Rachabalizoda admitted guilt for the attack after being charged.
Russian media had reported that the men were tortured during interrogation by the security services and unverified and brutal videos of the suspects' interrogations have been circulating on social media.
At court, Mirzoyev, Rachabalizoda and Fariduni showed signs of heavy bruising, including swollen faces, while Faizov was brought to court from a hospital in a wheelchair and sat with his eyes closed throughout the proceedings. He was attended by medics while in court, where he wore a hospital gown and trousers and was seen with multiple cuts.
Rachabalizoda also had a heavily bandaged ear.
Russian media said on Saturday that one of the suspects had his ear cut off during interrogation.
President Vladimir Putin, who has pledged to punish those behind the "barbaric terrorist attack", said the four men had been arrested while trying to flee to Ukraine. Kyiv has strongly denied any connection to the attack.
Putin said seven others have also been taken into custody.
Dmitry Medvedev, the deputy chairman of Russia's Security Council, said Russia would target those behind the deadly shooting wherever they were from and whoever they were.
He had previously spoken of the need to meet "death with death" and some legislators have begun to discuss whether the death penalty should be re-introduced.
Source: Qatar Tribune
