Some get their kicks by painting the town red, others by driving stolen tow trucks through Red Square.
A man was apprehended Wednesday after having allegedly hijacked a loaded tow truck and taken it for a 20-minute joyride around Red Square, one of the capital's most iconic landmarks, Russian media reported Wednesday.
The incident occurred after the suspect and the tow truck's driver got into a squabble due to the latter's efforts to tow the former's car, TASS reported.
Other media reports suggested that the suspect had been sitting in the backseat of the tow truck and unexpectedly attacked its driver, usurping the steering wheel.
Sensationalist television channel LifeNews identified the suspect as Pavel Klyuev, a 59-year-old resident of the Voronezh region. The channel also reported that the suspect and the tow truck's driver were acquaintances.
Moscow police has neither released nor confirmed reports of the suspect's identity.
A spokesman for the Moscow police told TASS that the area was secured to ensure the safety of tourists and passersby, before the tow truck's hijacker was arrested and taken to a nearby police station. A law enforcement source told the Gazeta.ru news site that the incident could have been caused by the suspect's unstable mental state.
Red Square, which has been on UNESCO's World Heritage list since 1990, is generally closed to traffic.
Red Square being the locale of Moscow's annual Victory Day parade, state-of-the-art military vehicles are known to drive across it during the festivities every May 9. Loaded tow trucks, however, have not traditionally featured as part of the procession.
A Message from The Moscow Times:
Dear readers,
We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has designated The Moscow Times as an "undesirable" organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a "foreign agent."
These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work "discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership." We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia.
We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help.
Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $2. It's quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact.
By supporting The Moscow Times, you're defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us.
Remind me later.
