Police believe the baseball bat-wielding men were sent by a
gangster
They believe it was because the restaurant owner would not pay up
Four employees were hurt in the attack - two were seriously
injured
By JILL REILLY
CCTV footage has caught the terrifying moment dozens of mafia
thugs stormed a pizza restaurant and smashed in an alleged protection money
racket. Police are convinced the
baseball bat-wielding mob were sent by a gangster because the restaurant owner
in the federal subject of Krasnodar Krai, near the Black Sea, was not paying
his due to the mob.
The restaurant, which is a favourite of local youngsters and
businessmen, was suddenly stormed on Tuesday evening by 40 masked men who set
about demolishing the fixtures and fittings and beating up the staff.
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CCTV footage has caught the terrifying moment dozens of mafia
thugs stormed a pizza restaurant and smashed it up in an attempt to force the
owner to pay protection money
Police are convinced the baseball bat-wielding mob were sent by a
gangster because the restaurant owner in the federal subject of Krasnodar Krai,
near the Black Sea, was not paying his due to the mob
The restaurant, which is a favourite of local youngsters and
businessmen, was suddenly stormed on Tuesday evening by 40 masked men who set
about demolishing the fixtures and fittings and beating up the staff
Ruben Zubarev, a customer who was inside at the time, said: 'They
just stormed in and shouted out: "Nobody move and you won't get hurt. We're
not here for customers." '
'Then they dragged two staff people outside and began beating them
with their bats.
'There was crockery flying, great holes knocked in the plaster in
the wall, tables smashed.
'The sound of the bats biting into bone and flesh was quite
sickening. I just sat there trying not to look.'
Ruben Zubarev, a customer who was inside at the time, said: 'They
just stormed in and shouted out: "Nobody move and you won't get hurt.
We're not here for customers"'
Damage to the restaurant is estimated at over £20,000 The attack
was over in minutes, but it left four employees injured, two seriously. Damage
to the restaurant is estimated at over £20,000. Police say the attack presented all the
hallmarks of a mafia 'lesson,' probably as a result of the boss either refusing
to pay protection money or being late on his payments. 'We are investigating,'
said police, 'but it is difficult. 'The men were masked and the employees say
they know nothing.'
