Twenty free climbers reportedly fight security guards on roof of Moscow skyscraper

A brawl broke out November 18 on the roof of Empire, formerly the Imperia Tower, in the Moscow skyscraper cluster Moskva-City. A source within the Russian capital’s law enforcement apparatus told TASS that 20 free climbers and a group of security guards were involved in the fight.

Moscow police confirmed that the conflict had taken place and said several individuals were arrested. The incident is under investigation.

The Telegram-based outlet Mash reported that the free climbers had reached the top of the Empire building to take photographs, and one of them released gas out of a handheld canister when security guards attempted to disperse the group. According to Mash, one security guard has been hospitalized, and six climbers have been arrested.

In 2017, a free climber attempting to scale Empire without safety equipment was stopped near the 30th floor of the 70-story building. The climber was cited for an administrative violation and asked to pay a fine equivalent to about $90.