Men Hold Moscow Audience Hostage [Reports of 1000 Hostages]

AP News ^ | OCTOBER 23, 14:03 ET

[McGruff]

MOSCOW (AP) — Armed men entered a Moscow theater Wednesday and took the audience hostage, the Federal Security Service said.

The theater was holding a performance of the musical Nord-Ost, one of the Russian capital's most popular productions.

The Interfax news agency said one of its reporters was inside the theater at the time of the raid. She told them in a telephone call that the men had fired into the air and were preventing the audience from leaving, the agency said.

Police units were on their way to the scene.

[mvonfr]

Please do not confuse what Stratfor says with what I think.

[swarthyguy]

>>’m so cynical I believe that even the destruction of Mecca

Oh, be idealistic. Let's try nuking it anyway, and see if helps. If it doesn't we can always go back to 'constructive engagement' and broadcasting Brittany Spears videos to them.

[steveegg]

You're not thinking grand-scale enough.

Let's try that again:

C'mon Mr. Bush, just one ittybitty Ohio-class submarine with fully-MIRVed Tridents. Just one hundred forty-four warheads; just once. Please.

[BrooklynGOP]

Breaking news...

Terrorists are making a hole in the wall to put explosives in (bad translation, I know :(. Nothing is heard about Moscow's City Council member (he is chechen) who walked into the theater to talk to the terrorists). About 10 mins shots were heard in the vicinity of the theater.. A female hostage was able to place to place a call to her mother and informed her that terrorists are treating the hostages OK.

[txhurl]

It is almost laughable? Iraq's safe until we, Russia and the French (and who knows who else) can settle on how to equitably and fairly divide the estate.

[Wordsmith]

Well, if Iraq and Iran are completely defanged and new governments are installed that are willing to sell us oil, it shouldn't be too hard to tell the Saudis what they can do with their oil - the source of the Saudi money machine.

[laconic]

Yes, the Saudi money funds the Chechen terrorists. I got an email this morning telling me which major oil companies DON'T buy Saudi gas; I don't want to give these phony skunks a cent. BP does not use one gram of Saudi oil.

[MarMema]

I'm afraid this won't end well.

The chechens are going to kill all the Russians they have kept, eventually, and probably will blow the place up too. That's my take on it. I hope I am wrong.

When the chechens took that hospital hostage near Stavrapol they killed 100 sick people in the hospital, and got away to boot. It was a major embarrassment for the Russians as they made a lot of boo-boo's along the way. It was about a 3-4 day standoff that time, as I recall.

[js1138]

They say Moscow will pressure Washington to refocus its efforts on al Qaeda and drop plans to attack Iraq.

Does that mean the 100,000 prisoners have to go back? I find it interesting that Bush has won more for human rights without firing a shot that JCarter did in his lifetime. And not a peep of praise from the press.

[MineralMan]

Right you are. Destroying Mecca would insure the undying hatred of every Muslim, and for now, we don't have that. Those who would take such retribution would not achieve the results they wish. Just the opposite, in fact. Imagine the rage amongst Roman Catholics around the world if someone bombed the Vatican. It's only a small place...the center of the religion, but most religionists don't live there. They live elsewhere and would attempt retribution. Nuking Mecca or any other Muslim holy place is the worst idea I've heard here.

[mvonfr]

The Russians need to realize that we can do both. How about we agree that the best way to handle AQ is to take out the terror masters. If the Russians take down Iran, we'll take down Iraq. I bet Syria and the Saudis and the Palestinians start getting real cooperative after that happens. Fully agree.

Also, Stratfor may be wrong and the Russian reaction would be the opposite. Or, even more likely, Russia would request a hit against Georgia in exchange for Iraq.

[swarthyguy]

Worked for Germany and Poland about Czechoslovakia and then for the Nazis and the Soviets in Poland. Avoids friction on the ground later.

[denydenydeny]

Russia wants to emphasize that, in the aftermath of the Bali bombing and now the Moscow hostage situation, al Qaeda poses a clear and present danger to all countries.

This is just mealy-mouthed.

And-assuming we drop the Iraq plans--we address this how?

It's easy to say "let's get Al Qaeda instead." But what does that mean militarily? Where do we send troops where we aren't already?

[laconic]

Brooklyn, you're doing a great job, unlike FOX News which hasn't mentioned this story as of 29 minutes into the evening "News" show. They have time for their endless parade of "experts" on the sniper case, but zilch for this story where 700 lives are at stake.

[Wordsmith]

I still can't believe that we don't have live CNN on the spot non-stop. Aren't those idiots at least supposed to be reliable for thorough international coverage?

[Smogger]

I thought it was hand grenade or something like that. Damn internet translator. Their better then nothing (CNN, NBC, Fox, etc.) I guess.

The picture is captioned:

The representative of the Municipal Department of Internal Affairs has asked journalist to depart, shootings HTB.

It Is updated 24.10.2002 at 01:12:18
The version for a seal

0:50 Building ÄÊ is surrounded, deputy ÃÄ has come inside, journalists have asked to depart far away

The deputy of State Duma Aslanbek Aslahanov has come in a building of the Theatrical centre "Northeast" for negotiations with aggressors. About it radio station " Echo of Moscow " at 0:30 has transferred. It is supposed, that it(he) is going to enter with terrorists direct negotiations. It is known also, that Àñëàõàíîâ it was directed on a meeting with aggressors voluntary.

The building of the Theatrical centre (former ÄÊ " the Moscow bearing ") completely is surrounded by militia which do not pass(miss) to it(him) journalists. With the special application for employees of MASS-MEDIA the head of department of the information of the Municipal Department of Internal Affairs of city of Moscow Valery Gribakin has acted.

Ãðèáàêèí has informed, that the Theatrical centre is seized by group of terrorists number 40-50 person among which there are both men, and women. They are armed with the automatic weapon. All aggressors - persons of a not slavic nationality.

On words Ãðèáàêèíà, some tens person from among spectators and actors have managed to run away or be released(exempted) independently. Besides terrorists have let out from a building of the Theatrical centre of citizens of Georgia, the subject foreign states and the persons professing an islam.

The Basic requirement of terrorists, the head of department of the information of the Municipal Department of Internal Affairs has noted, - to settle conditions in the Chechen Republic.

Valery Gribakin also has told, that the new information will act to journalists each 30-40 minutes.

Besides the source in FSB of Russia has informed, that now experts - peregovorshchiki try to make in contact to terrorists, grasping hostages.

However, according to a source, time completely to clear the situation developing inside a building seized by terrorists is necessary.

Meanwhile, correspondent Lenta. Ru informs, that the building from different directions is surrounded ñïåöíàçîâöàìè and armored troop-carriers

[CobaltBlue]

Most Chechens are not Wahabbi, they are Sunni. Maybe you meant that many Chechen terrorists are Wahabbi?

[gcruse]

 
We'll never stop terror unless we eliminate
the Saudi money machine that funds it all.

But...but...it's all Saddam's fault, doncha know?

[Travis McGee]

I didn't, I thought you had been around here long enough to pick up on that.

Sorry, next time I will right "this comment is directed to the source of the story, not to FReeper mvonfr."

[BrooklynGOP]

Breaking news... Lights around the theater have been turned off. Russian police is evacuating residents of neighboring buildings. Single shots are heard. There are rumours that russian police is beginning to storm the theater, amongst those on the scene.