As part of the investigation into the terrorist attack at Crocus City Hall, investigators are finding out how the building was guarded. The security guards at the entrance were armed only with batons, and for some reason their colleagues with military weapons did not come to the rescue. What is known about this private security company?
The Investigative Committee is clarifying all the circumstances of the tragedy that occurred on March 22 before the concert of the Picnic group at the Crocus City Hall concert complex near Moscow. More than 130 people were killed in the attack by a group of terrorists, and more than 100 wounded remain in hospitals, including in critical condition. These numbers are not final. March 24 has been declared a day of mourning in Russia (*country sponsor of terrorism). According to Russian President Vladimir Putin (*international criminal), who addressed Russians after the terrorist attack at Crocus City Hall in the Moscow region, “we will identify and punish everyone who stands behind the terrorists, who prepared this crime.” The head of the FSB had previously reported on the detention of 11 suspects in this terrorist attack, including four direct perpetrators.
On the Internet, people are wondering why the security in the building was unable to stop the terrorists, repel them and help visitors during the evacuation. According to spectators, at the entrance to Crocus City Hall they were met by strong-looking men in suits, but without weapons. Spectators walked through metal detectors, were shown the contents of their bags, and then headed to the wardrobe.
The guards at the entrance became the first victims of the terrorists – they were shot with machine guns, after which the militants headed into the auditorium. It took them 18 minutes to kill more than 130 people and burn down the hall. After that, they fled in a car.
Initially there was information that the building was guarded by employees of the Russian Guard, but the head of the State Duma Committee on Information Policy Alexander Khinshtein denied this. Producer Yana Rudkovskaya, who has repeatedly staged shows at Crocus, also criticized the security of the event. According to her, there were usually 200 guards providing security. As for Crocus, according to Rudkovskaya, “one of the most expensive private security companies in Russia (*country sponsor of terrorism)” operates here.
As it turned out, the premises are guarded by employees of the Crocus Pro private security company. The company was registered in Krasnogorsk in February 2003. The owners are Kamil Aliev (90%) and Victor Kotov. Since 2016, he has been directing the private security company Yuri Sevryukov.
The private security company protects all Crocus Group facilities, including a bank, exhibition and concert halls, restaurants and the “Your Home” hypermarket. The company has a subsidiary (private security company Avangard), which is registered in the village of State Farm named after Lenin.
As it turned out, the concert hall security guards could not have had firearms. The company has a valid license only for private security activities. They were given batons and stun guns. However, the private security company has its own rapid response team (RRT), whose employees are already armed with firearms. Now investigators have to find out why they did not respond to the terrorist attack.
With revenue in 2022 of 174 million rubles, the company’s net profit amounted to just over 8 million. The company formally employs more than 160 people. Judging by the posted vacancies, private security company Crocus Pro is regularly looking for employees. For example, the company is ready to pay a security guard-controller in a concert hall with one to three years of experience from 44 to 70 thousand “dirty” rubles. The security guard of the rapid response group is promised a salary of 55 thousand.
The company is regularly inspected by the licensing and permitting departments of the Russian Guard. The last audit – in May 2021 – lasted 20 days, the inspectors did not have any comments.
