Russian officials said a special forces operation had freed some of the hostages and “neutralized” all the attackers, but later confirmed that four prison staff were killed in the attack.
According to the Mash Telegram channel, the assault by special forces lasted for half an hour. The terrorists are said to have been eliminated and all hostages have been rescued.
This was soon confirmed by the Russian news agency TASS, citing the press service of the Russian Guard.
“Snipers of the special forces of the Russian Guard in the Volgograd region neutralized four prisoners who had taken the workers of the colony hostage with four accurate shots in order to free the hostages,” the report reads.
An attack by inmates and hostage-taking at a prison in Russia’s southern Volgograd region has left four workers in hospital in serious condition, officials said. Russian Telegram channels earlier reported that at least three people had been stabbed to death.
The seizure comes two months after inmates linked to the Islamic State (IS) group took guards hostage at another prison and heightened ethnic tensions after an IS attack at a concert hall in Moscow.
“The convicts took hostage the employees of the correctional institution (IK-19). Measures are currently being taken to free the hostages. There are victims,” the Russian Federal Prison Service said in a statement.
Three prison staff are now in intensive care. One of them is in critical condition, the others are in extremely serious condition. These are Roman Ponomarev (extremely serious condition), head of the prison Andrei Devyatov (multiple head wounds), Alexey Lygin (stab wounds to the face, skull fracture, critical condition).
The identities of the intruders who killed and injured the colony workers are reported: Ramzidin Toshev (from Uzbekistan, convicted of attempted drug trafficking); Nazirkhon Toshov (originating from Tajikistan, convicted of attempted drug trafficking); Temur Khusinov (Uzbek origin, convicted of grievous bodily harm resulting in death).
Together with Rustamkhon Navruzius, they stabbed to death at least three prison employees and took five more hostages, one of whom they tried to scalp, according to a video that appeared online.
Four prison staff were hospitalized as a result of the attack, Volgograd Governor Andrey Bocharov said.
“An operational headquarters has been established to coordinate the work of freeing the hostages. Law enforcement and security services carry out operational activities. There is no danger to civilians,” he added.
The criminals reportedly demanded a helicopter, $2 million and the ability to travel abroad freely.
Russian leader Vladimir Putin said the “situation” would be discussed at a regular meeting of the country’s Security Council on Friday.
Videos posted on Russian social media show bloodied prison guards taken hostage. They also showed the hostage-takers holding flags associated with IS. However, AFP could not verify those videos.
Russia’s Investigative Committee said several prisoners were involved in the attack. Governor A. Bocharov did not comment on the identity of the hostage-takers, but hinted at reports that they are not Russian citizens.
“Every person in our territory must respect and obey the laws of Russia. We will not allow anyone to try to incite ethnic discord,” the regional administration said in a statement.
The IK-19 correctional colony is located in the city of Surovikino, about 850 km south of Moscow.
The incident occurred during a meeting of the prison’s disciplinary commission, the Federal Prison Service added.
In June, IS-affiliated prisoners staged a similar attack at a prison in the southern Rostov region. Russian special forces then managed to kill the hostage-takers and free the guards after a clash.
Tensions have been high in Russia over migrants since an attack at a Moscow concert hall in March that killed 145 people, the deadliest terror attack in Russia in two decades.
IS’s Central Asia branch claimed responsibility for the attack, and the four suspected attackers, now in custody pending trial, are Tajik nationals.
2024-08-25 05:47:27