Trial begins for suspects in 2024 Moscow concert hall attack that killed 149 people

MOSCOW (AP) — A trial began Monday under tight security for 19 defendants accused of involvement in last year’s shooting rampage in a Moscow concert hall that killed 149 people and wounded over 600 in one of the deadliest attacks in the capital in years.

A faction of the Islamic State group claimed responsibility for the March 22, 2024, massacre at the Crocus City Hall concert venue in which four gunmen shot people who were waiting for a show by a popular rock band and then set the building on fire.

President Vladimir Putin and other Russian officials have claimed, without presenting evidence, that Ukraine had a role in the attack. Kyiv has strongly denied any involvement.

The Investigative Committee, Russia's top criminal investigation agency, said in June that it concluded that the attack had been “planned and carried out in the interests of the current leadership of Ukraine in order to destabilize political situation in our country.” It also noted the four suspected gunmen tried to flee to Ukraine afterward.

The four, all identified as citizens of Tajikistan, were arrested hours after the attack and later appeared in a Moscow court with signs of being severely beaten.

The defendants appearing in court on Monday kept their heads bowed as they sat in the defendants' cage.

The committee said earlier this year that six other suspects were charged in absentia and placed on Russia’s wanted list for allegedly recruiting and organizing the training of the four. Other defendants in the trial were accused of helping them.

Suspects accused of involvement in a terror attack in the Crocus City Hall on March 22, 2024, sit in a glass cage prior to a hearing in the 2nd Western District Military Court in Moscow, Russia, Monday, Aug. 4, 2025. (AP Photo/Pavel Bednyakov)

Suspects accused of involvement in a terror attack in the Crocus City Hall on March 22, 2024, sit in a glass cage prior to a hearing in the 2nd Western District Military Court in Moscow, Russia, Monday, Aug. 4, 2025. (AP Photo/Pavel Bednyakov)

Suspects accused of involvement in a terror attack in the Crocus City Hall on March 22, 2024, sit in a glass cage prior to a hearing in the 2nd Western District Military Court in Moscow, Russia, Monday, Aug. 4, 2025. (AP Photo/Pavel Bednyakov)

Suspects accused of involvement in a terror attack in the Crocus City Hall on March 22, 2024, sit in a glass cage prior to a hearing in the 2nd Western District Military Court in Moscow, Russia, Monday, Aug. 4, 2025. (AP Photo/Pavel Bednyakov)

Suspects accused of involvement in a terror attack in the Crocus City Hall on March 22, 2024, sit in a glass cage prior to a hearing in the 2nd Western District Military Court in Moscow, Russia, Monday, Aug. 4, 2025. (AP Photo/Pavel Bednyakov)

Suspects accused of involvement in a terror attack in the Crocus City Hall on March 22, 2024, sit in a glass cage prior to a hearing in the 2nd Western District Military Court in Moscow, Russia, Monday, Aug. 4, 2025. (AP Photo/Pavel Bednyakov)

Suspects accused of involvement in a terror attack in the Crocus City Hall on March 22, 2024, sit in a glass cage prior to a hearing in the 2nd Western District Military Court in Moscow, Russia, Monday, Aug. 4, 2025. (AP Photo/Pavel Bednyakov)

Suspects accused of involvement in a terror attack in the Crocus City Hall on March 22, 2024, sit in a glass cage prior to a hearing in the 2nd Western District Military Court in Moscow, Russia, Monday, Aug. 4, 2025. (AP Photo/Pavel Bednyakov)

Suspects accused of involvement in a terror attack in the Crocus City Hall on March 22, 2024, sit in a glass cage prior to a hearing in the 2nd Western District Military Court in Moscow, Russia, Monday, Aug. 4, 2025. (AP Photo/Pavel Bednyakov)

Suspects accused of involvement in a terror attack in the Crocus City Hall on March 22, 2024, sit in a glass cage prior to a hearing in the 2nd Western District Military Court in Moscow, Russia, Monday, Aug. 4, 2025. (AP Photo/Pavel Bednyakov)

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — Shai Gilgeous-Alexander isn't scoring the way he usually does, but the Oklahoma City Thunder are still winning the way they normally do.

Gilgeous-Alexander, the reigning NBA MVP, averaged 31.1 points during the regular season. In the Western Conference semifinals against the Los Angeles Lakers, he is averaging 20 points and taking only 14 shots per game.

Oklahoma City has still won the first two games by an average of 18 points. Gilgeous-Alexander and Chet Holmgren each scored 22 points, and the defending champion Thunder beat the Lakers 125-107 on Thursday night.

Ajay Mitchell, starting in place of injured Jalen Williams, is averaging 19 points on 50% shooting in the series for Oklahoma City.

“I think the coaching staff does a good job at just getting all of us ready,” said Mitchell, a second-year guard. "And we have a lot of competitors. Like, everyone’s a competitor on our team. So every time the lights are bright, everyone’s ready to go.”

Holmgren is the leading scorer for the Thunder in the best-of-seven series with 23 points per game. The 2026 All-Star also is averaging 10.5 rebounds and 2.5 blocks.

Jared McCain, a midseason acquisition from the Philadelphia 76ers, barely played in the first round against Phoenix but has averaged 15 points and made 8 of 10 3-pointers in the series.

“He goes in there, stays in character, stays aggressive," Thunder coach Mark Daigneault said. "He’s going to shoot the next shot. He makes the right plays, plays inside the team. He competes defensively, has had good defensive possessions for us. And he was huge tonight. You need that in a playoff series.”

The Lakers again were without scoring champion Luka Doncic, who is out indefinitely with a strained left hamstring. They also were missing forward Jarred Vanderbilt, the reserve forward who dislocated the pinkie on his right hand during the second quarter of Game 1. The Lakers had three players finish with five fouls, limiting their aggressiveness late in the game.

Los Angeles guard Austin Reaves, who struggled with his shot in Game 1, scored 31 points on 10-for-16 shooting in Game 2. LeBron James, coming off a 27-point effort in Game 1, followed that up with 23.

With the Lakers up 63-61 early in the third quarter, Gilgeous-Alexander got tied up with Reaves and was called for his fourth foul. Upon review, it was upgraded to a flagrant 1 for Gilgeous-Alexander's follow through. Oklahoma City's Alex Caruso was called for a technical foul as the situation was being sorted out.

Gilgeous-Alexander left the game with the Lakers up 65-61, but the Thunder rallied and took control without him. On a fast break, Holmgren found a trailing Jaylin Williams, who hit a 3-pointer and was fouled. His free throw put the Thunder up 85-74.

The Thunder outscored the Lakers 32-15 while Gilgeous-Alexander was out in the third quarter to take a 93-80 lead into the fourth.

“It was amazing," Gilgeous-Alexander said. “They strung together stops, they’re playing the right way offensively and things are going their way. Full confidence in those guys. They know how to win basketball games. And we've proven that. They’ve proven that no matter who’s on the floor, they know how to get the job done. And they just did it again tonight."

The Lakers cut Oklahoma City's lead to five in the fourth quarter before the Thunder pulled away again.

Los Angeles will host Game 3 on Saturday.

“We just stuck with it,” Holmgren said. “It’s the game of basketball. It’s not always going to go your way. It’s about how you respond. And this team has proven many times that we know how to respond. And we did so tonight.”

This story has been corrected to show that Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is averaging 20, not 19, points per game against the Lakers.

AP NBA: https://apnews.com/hub/NBA

Oklahoma City Thunder's Chet Holmgren (7) shoots over Los Angeles Lakers' Austin Reaves (15) in the second half of Game 2 in a second-round NBA basketball playoffs series Thursday, May 7, 2026, in Oklahoma City. (AP Photo/Nate Billings)

Oklahoma City Thunder guard Ajay Mitchell, front, works for a shot as Los Angeles Lakers' Austin Reaves, rear, defends in the second half of Game 2 in a second-round NBA basketball playoffs series Thursday, May 7, 2026, in Oklahoma City. (AP Photo/Nate Billings)

Los Angeles Lakers' LeBron James stands on the court in the second half of Game 2 in a second-round NBA basketball playoffs series against the Oklahoma City Thunder Thursday, May 7, 2026, in Oklahoma City. (AP Photo/Nate Billings)

Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (2) drives to the basket past Los Angeles Lakers' Deandre Ayton (5) and LeBron James, rear, in the second half of Game 2 in a second-round NBA basketball playoffs series Thursday, May 7, 2026, in Oklahoma City. (AP Photo/Nate Billings)

Oklahoma City Thunder center Chet Holmgren (7) works to the basket against Los Angeles Lakers forward Rui Hachimura (28) in the second half of Game 2 in a second-round NBA basketball playoffs series Thursday, May 7, 2026, in Oklahoma City. (AP Photo/Nate Billings)