Agalarov explained why people were stuck in the burning Crocus

Agalarov denied information about the evacuation exits in Crocus being closed during the terrorist attack

Photo: Global Look Press

Evacuation exits in Crocus City Hall were open during the terrorist attack, and people, trying to escape, fled in the opposite direction from the terrorists and ended up in the technical premises area. The son of the owner of the concert hall Araz Agalarov, Emin Agalarov, stated this in an interview with the Forbes YouTube channel.

In response to the journalist’s remark that many wrote in the media and social networks that they could not find a way out, the businessman said that indeed, in the event of a fire or terrorist attack, “it’s not easy to do.”

“You physically cannot get out through fire exit, because there is a terrorist with machine guns standing there. You are looking for a new exit,” said Agalarov.

He noted that the entrances through which people entered the hall are, among other things, evacuation ones. Since the terrorists opened fire and set fire to the building in the area of ​​these entrances, people had no opportunity to use them, Agalarov said.

“Many people ran across the stage, and the stage has one emergency exit to the street and its extension leads back to the foyer. People, realizing that they were in a place where terrorists were located, fled in the opposite direction, where the technical premises were. Therefore, there are many fakes about the doors being closed. In this shock and fear, they, unfortunately, ended up in technical rooms, entry to which is provided only by cards. These are doors leading to nowhere — to studios, warehouses, technical rooms,” the businessman said in an interview.

He also noted that in addition to those who died directly at the hands of terrorists as a result of bullet wounds, there were also those who died from the consequences of the fire — their bodies were found in the toilets.

Recall that the terrorist attack in Crocus City Hall occurred on March 22. That evening, a performance by the Picnic group was scheduled to take place in the concert hall. Shortly before the start of the event, four terrorists burst into the building and opened fire, and then set the room on fire.

As a result of the attack, more than 140 people died.