Hostage takers at Russian detention centre killed, guards freed
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox
Follow topic:
MOSCOW – Russian special forces stormed a detention centre in the southern city of Rostov on June 16, killing several hostage takers and freeing the two guards who were held at knife-point by prisoners with links to the Islamic State.
Intense automatic gunfire could be heard in footage published on Russian Telegram channels.
“The criminals were eliminated,” Russia’s Federal Penitentiary Service said in a statement quoted by the Interfax news agency.
“The employees who were being held hostage were released. They are uninjured,” the prison service said.
Six detainees were earlier reported to have been involved.
The men, who include some already convicted of terrorism offences, knocked out the bars of a window in their cell and entered a guard room where they took at least two prison officers hostage, the Baza Telegram channel said.
State media said some of the prisoners were accused of terrorism offences, including affiliation with the ISIS militant group, which claimed responsibility for a deadly attack on a Moscow concert hall in March.
Pictures from the scene showed roads being closed off around the detention centre.
Interfax said the prisoners had demanded a car and free passage. REUTERS
