There was a terrorist attack on Crocus Town Hall on March 22nd.
Photo: Ivan MAKEEV
After the terrorist attack on Crocus Town Hall, artists remember how their performances were organized in this modern concert hall. Concerts in Crocus have been held since 2009, so almost all famous artists have performed there more than once. Crocus organized some events himself, most of the concerts he rented. The artist’s management or the company organizing the concert concluded two contracts at the same time (this was the rule), with the venue Crocus City Hall and with Crocus Profi LLC, regarding security. The guards were at the entrance to the hall in the “frames”, in the hall, and maintained order in the hall.
The capacity of the concert hall was 9,500 spectators; When the dance floor was organized, it could have fit more. On March 22 and 23, tickets for the Picnic group’s concerts with the symphony orchestra were sold out two days before the event. Dima Bilan’s performances in February were equally sold out: 15,000 spectators in two days, also sold out.
Producer Yana Rudkovskaya
Photo: Mikhail FROLOV
Bilan producer Yana Rudkovskaya writes on her Telegram channel about the security of the event: “I have a question that came to mind after the shock! I know how Crocus works, we always had around 200 security guards at Dima’s show, on every floor, at every entrance and at every event. This is always a separate agreement for the security of the event itself. And a separate agreement with the Crocus site. In this case I don’t understand nor does anyone understand: why wasn’t there a single armed guard? None of these personnel resisted or protected the spectators! Because? Where were everyone? They weren’t just standing at the main entrance. Many questions for the private security company. Where was everyone and why is such unarmed security needed? And who and from whom does he protect then! This concert could have been ours or any other concert! I, as a person who organizes many events, including at Crocus, do not understand how this can happen! We pay money for spectator protection and not a little! We pay money for our security! For the safety of our children!”
Spectators at the Picnic group’s concert noticed that no one took them out of the room or showed them where the emergency exits were. Yana Rudkovskaya watched an interview with a man, a spectator of the failed concert, who disarmed the terrorist and asked him: “The spectators fought, but where was the security? Where were those whose direct role was to protect the safety of spectators? I will tell you that Crocus has one of the most expensive private security companies in Russia. I have fear only. Why do I write and raise this problem? All public events need to be guarded only by professional armed people, and not by big-bellied guys who pay a lot of money and need to be guarded themselves! I have four children. We could all be there with you. For example, my family and I went there at least 15 times a year!”
Veterans of the special services, commenting on the security behavior of the event, note: the unarmed and untrained guards could not do anything against the armed terrorists, in addition there was a surprise effect, shooting from the entrance to the building.
