Four people standing trial in a Moscow court were killed on Tuesday in a gunfight that broke out in the court building, a lawyer for the defendants said.
The lawyer, Diana Tatosova, told Reuters by telephone that she was told by the chief investigator in the case that of the 11 defendants in the court, four had been killed.
TASS news agency said the gunfight broke out after some of the defendants had tried to grab firearms from court security officers, and take hostages.
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Authorities said the incident took place during a hearing in a case of a gang of nine people who are suspected of killing more than a dozen of motorists.
Russia media dubbed the accused “the Grand Theft Auto gang” after the violent video game. The men on trial are accused of terrorizing Moscow motorists for months in 2014. Prosecutors said the gang members were placing spikes on roads, forcing the motorists out of their vehicles and shooting them dead.
The men on trial are accused of terrorizing Moscow motorists for months in 2014. Prosecutors said the gang members were placing spikes on roads, forcing the motorists out of their vehicles and shooting them dead.
The nine men, all from Central Asia, are charged with 17 murders and two attempted murders.
With files from the Associated Press