Russian forces kill 4 IS-linked prison hostage takers, Volgograd Governor says some hostages dead too

Russian special forces on Friday “neutralised” four inmates who had taken staff hostage at a prison in the southern Volgograd region, the National Guard said in a statement.

“Special National Guard sniper units neutralised four prisoners who had taken colony staff hostage, with four accurate shots. The hostages were released,” the agency said in a statement posted on Telegram.

However, AFP, citing local governor, reported that some hostages were also killed in the prison siege.

“Unfortunately, there are people dead from the actions of the criminals,” Volgograd Governor Andrey Bocharov said in a statement on Telegram, without specifying how many people the attackers had killed.

More from World

Russian oil disruption threatens global economy, India's burden manageable at $5bn a year: Report Ahead of Putin meeting, Trump to hold virtual talks with European leaders; Zelenskyy likely to join

Earlier in the day, knife-wielding prisoners identifying themselves as Islamic State militants staged a bloody attack on guards in a Russian penal colony on Friday and seized hostages, according to state media and news outlets with ties to the security services.

A video posted by one of the news channels, Mash, showed at least two attackers. One of them shouted that they were “mujahideen” of the militant group Islamic State and had seized control of the prison in the Volgograd region.

At least four uniformed prison officials could be seen lying or sitting in pools of blood. Three were lying motionless, one with his throat cut. Another was sitting upright in a doorway, where a man with a knife was holding him by the neck.

Impact Shorts

View All

Ahead of Putin meeting, Trump to hold virtual talks with European leaders; Zelenskyy likely to join

Ignored for Alaska talks, Zelenskyy serves a warning: Putin will try to ‘deceive’ Trump on ceasefire

Russia state media said at least one member of the prison staff had been killed, but the video suggested the death toll was almost certainly higher.

The prison service said in a statement, “During a session of a disciplinary commission, convicts took staff of the penal institution as hostages. Measures are currently being taken to free the hostages. There are casualties.”

The prison is designated as a “harsh regime” penal colony with capacity to hold up to 1,241 male prisoners.

News sites with security connections published the names of up to four alleged attackers, identifying them as citizens of Uzbekistan and Tajikistan. There was no official confirmation.

Russia, whose defence and security agencies are heavily focused on its war in Ukraine, has seen a recent upsurge in Islamist militant attacks.

In June, a bloody Islamic State-linked prison uprising took place in the southern region of Rostov, where special forces shot dead six inmates who had taken hostages.

Later that month, at least 20 people were killed in shooting attacks in two cities in Dagestan, a mainly Muslim region of southern Russia.