Two city hall employees charged after Moscow concert attack
1:42 PM EDT, June 1, 2024
Two more individuals are expected to face criminal charges following the terrorist attack at Crocus Hall near Moscow. Municipal Office employees have been accused of failing to meet safety requirements. They are charged with not opening the doors, preventing people from safely exiting the building.
At the end of March, a terrorist attack occurred in Russia. Armed militants stormed the Crocus City Hall complex, opened fire on people, set the concert hall on fire, and then fled the scene without hindrance. As many as 145 people died, and over 500 were injured. The attackers were apprehended near the Ukrainian border, and images of their appearance after being tortured circulated worldwide.
The independent Russian portal Kommersant reported that the Investigative Committee charged two employees of the Crocus Municipal Office. The charges are related to providing services that did not meet safety requirements, resulting in the death of at least two people due to negligence.
The main charge brought by investigators is that at the time of the terrorist attack, the emergency exits from the hall were closed. The accused deny their guilt, claiming that the fire exits were open, but armed terrorists prevented people from using them, writes the Moscow Times, citing Kommersant.
According to Russian media, both accused decided to resign and no longer work in the concert hall.
Attack at Crocus City Hall. People died in the restrooms
According to the Kommersant publication, many audience members could not leave the burning building due to closed fire exits. As a result, approximately 80 people hiding in various rooms, including restrooms, died.
Fire safety inspections have been ordered. The investigation aims to determine who owns the premises. The concert hall is owned by Araz Agalarow, one of Russia's wealthiest oligarchs, while the restrooms belong to an independent company. Agalarow's son stated that the emergency exits were functioning correctly; however, those fleeing tried to exit through closed staff areas.
In April, the victims of the terrorist attack approached the Investigative Committee, requesting to initiate criminal proceedings against the owners of Crocus. The petitioners believe the building was not adequately equipped with fire protection systems.
