[SamAdams76]

700 hostages, this is huge, on the scale of Bali if things go wrong. Let's hope the Russian SWAT teams can do something.

[SerpentDove]

No expert here, but what is the outcome going to be? I can only forsee mass homicide.

How can 20 people make some ransom demand on 700-1000 hostages?

It's not money. This seems in my UNEXPERT OPINION that mass homicide is in the cards. These people may well be spending their last moments alive on earth.

God be merciful to us.