Verdict Issued on Ukraine-backed Moscow Massacre

A Russian court have sentenced 15 men to life in prison over the 2024 Crocus City Hall massacre, the deadliest terrorist attack in the country in over two decades. Russian investigators found that the assault was organized on behalf of Ukraine. 

The Second Western District Military Court delivered the verdict in Moscow on Thursday, nearly two years after four gunmen stormed the Crocus City Hall concert venue on March 22, 2024, opening fire on a crowd gathered for a sold-out show by veteran rock band Picnic, setting the building ablaze and fleeing toward Ukraine. 

The Russian Investigative Committee asserted that the “inhuman crime” was orchestrated in Ukraine’s interests in order to “destabilize the political situation in our country”. 

All 19 defendants – mostly Tajik nationals – in the case were convicted; alongside the 15 life terms, one man received 22.5 years, and three others just under 20 years each. 

The court also found that two unidentified suspects still at large had been organizing cells of Vilayat Khorasan – the Islamic State’s regional affiliate – in Russia, recruiting the 19 defendants. Altogether, one hundred and forty-nine people were killed, one missing and 609 wounded. 

There's no doubt Celtic must collect the three points against Motherwell in Saturday's Scottish Premiership match at Celtic Park. And they did the job they were supposed to as they thumped the Steelmen 3-1.

It was the visitors who actually took the lead just after the half-hour mark when Reo Hatate was caught in possession at the edge of the Celtic box, giving a rival player the chance to smash the ball low past Viljami Sinisalo into the net. 

Five minutes later, a Benjamin Nygren cut-back in to the box was cleared only as far as Yang Hyun-jun, who swept in towards goal and slammed in to level the score.

Then, a corner from sub Luke McCowan resulted in a penalty for Celtic, as Daizen Maeda was hauled to the ground at the back post. Tomas Cvancara stepped up and smashed his spot-kick in to the back of the net in the 72nd minute. 

And goalie Sinisalo launched the ball forward towards Yang, who took it in his stride before he produced a brilliant finish and claimed his second goal in the 79th minute. 

On the same day too, Hearts fell to a shock 1-0 defeat to relegation-threatened Kilmarnock as their lead narrowed to only two points.

And today, third-placed Rangers won 1-0 against St Mirren to help them close the gap on the league leaders to three points. 

With eight games still to go, more twists and turns are to be expected in the final two months of the campaign.