Russian Showman Svetlakov Says How He Managed To Get Out Of Crocus

The comedian was in the concert hall at the time of the terrorist attack.

Russian showman Sergey Svetlakov was in the Crocus City Hall concert hall near Moscow when terrorists attacked on March 22. Together with other visitors he barricaded himself in the corridor, the shooting was a few metres away, the actor told Ksenia Sobchak.

- The terrorists entered the hall from the side of the amphitheatre (the boxes where we were staying are located just above it, then a few people managed to get in there). There was non-stop shooting left and right. A lot of people, hearing the shots, ran towards the stage. We jumped out into the narrow corridor. A group of 20-30 people formed there. The girl-manager, who was on the floor, found the keys and closed the exits from all the boxes (because everyone who was there had already run out, and we were afraid that the terrorists would get in from there, the shooting was literally a few metres away).

Then, with a few guys, we decided to barricade the entrances to our corridor: chairs, sofas... Here was probably the most frightening moment - the sounds of shooting stopped and after a pause they started to break the door to the corridor, opposite to which my friend and I and my niece Masha were. Everyone in the corridor probably said goodbye to their lives, because we didn't know how many terrorists there were or what their plan was. The door was torn down quickly - it turned out to be the audience, running people were looking for a way out.

Strong stinking smoke appeared and we needed to make a decision about what to do next, 15-20 minutes had passed by this time... Again, the manager suggested opening some doors and using the stairs to run out as a group through the foyer. Everyone agreed and started to move in silence, women took off their heels, there was no great panic... When we came out of this corridor, we found ourselves in an already smoke-filled foyer. Another Crocus employee was standing at the side and waving at us to run not through the centre.

Then we found ourselves on the street. So, with no clothes on, we ran a few more kilometres, to where my wife who was fortunately late was waiting for us in the car.

Today I found the name of the girl who didn't get lost and really helped everyone - Sophia Meyer. Thank you! You're a hero.

Condolences to all the victims. It was hell.

We remind you that in the evening of March 22, unknown men armed with automatic rifles broke into the building of Crocus City Hall in Krasnogorsk near Moscow and opened fire. According to the Investigative Committee of Russia, 133 people died as a result of the attack.