Explosion, Gunfire Heard From Moscow Theater Where 600 Hostages Being Held by Chechen Rebels

abcnews.com ^ | October 25, 2002 | AP

[Destro]

October 25, 2002

Explosion, Gunfire Heard From Moscow Theater Where 600 Hostages Being Held by Chechen Rebels

The Associated Press

M O S C O W, Oct. 25 — Chechen rebels threatened to begin killing their 600 hostages in a Moscow theater at dawn Saturday, but later promised to free the captives if Russian President Vladimir Putin declared an end to the war in Chechnya and began withdrawing troops.

A few hours after the demands became known, an explosion and gunshots were heard from the theater early Saturday but an AP photographer with a view of the building's entrance saw no signs of a blast. There was no official comment, and earlier most journalists were moved away from the theater.

[MarMema]

Thanking God, for the special forces who went to help the Russians from all over the world, for the huge number of survivors, and for the children who did not have to go through that ending..

Lenta.ru has a fitting photo of the very empty interior of the theatre. Says there is still strong smell of gas. I wonder what they used....apparently they had to carry out a large number of hostages because of the gas..

[ProbableCause]

That sounds very useful. I'll look for your updated list too. Or, if could let me know when it's ready that'd be great. Thanks.

[MarMema]

LOL, Lenta.ru quote -

"Some insurgents managed to be taken alive"

[m1911]

No thanks, I'll trust you on that.

[nicmarlo]

I plan on doing that tomorrow. I found a site with e-mails, which I'll also post, but I'll compare to what I have and make corrections.

[infowarrior]

If I'm not mistaken the head of the group is a well known Chechen terrorist...

If news reports are not mistaken then he's likewise a well known, late, and largely unlamented Chechen terrorist...

the infowarrior

[thatdewd]

MOSCOW. Oct 26 (Interfax) - The riot police unit that freed the theater "acted excellently," the headquarters reported. "During the raid, 32 terrorists were killed while none of the riot policemen died or was wounded," a spokesman of the headquarters noted. However, the hostage release raid can be fully evaluated when the precise amount of the injured people is known, he said

[Brad’s Gramma]

Thanks for that last bit of news (GOOD!) for my evening. Destro, thanks for starting the thread. And as I said on the other thread, thanks to everyone for the prayers.

God heard and answered. NEVER EVER EVER forget that.

[BrooklynGOP]

I heard that he tried pass off as one of the hostages.

[Squantos]

The only thing that will reduce the effects of an explosion is distance, protective works or encapsulated foam. And in my experience it can't be introduced fast enough to stop such use of sucide bombers as we see in this case.

Best possible scenerio here IMHO would have been 80 marksmen assigned to the 40 tangos shooting from 80 spider holes in the walls of that theater . I'd leave it up to the shooters as to either right eye or left eye hits.

Just my amature SWAG as to how I'd have tried it .......albeit I yeild to the professionals.

Stay Safe !

[BrooklynGOP]

none of the riot policemen died or was wounded

That's not true. 2 special forces were wounded (not life threatening) and one suffered a concussion. Also, russian media says that they gained access to the buildilng by going through an ajacent gay club and blowing a hole in the wall.

[abner]

Thanks for your VERY timely commentary. And, better translation than the CNN guy. Where did all of the perfect english speaking translators end up anyway. I remember during the cold war, everytime I heard a Russian interviewed, their english was better than most Americans. LOL!

[m1911]

I shouldn't I shouldn't I shouldn't

Oh, what the hell

So the used the back entrance from the gay club?

[m1911]

the=they

Thank you to everyone who translated, searched, posted, etc. on this through the last few days. As Austin Powers would say "And... I'm spent!". G'night all.

[thatdewd]

russian media says...

Do you have numbers on the hostage casualties?

[seeker41]

Thanks everybody all your effort is appreciated. Damn I feel good! Anytime an islamic terrorist is killed it feels great.

[MarMema]

Lenta.ru is saying about 30 hostages dead, several serious injured at hospitals, and one missing person - an Australian, who was employed at the embassy in Moscow. Not found, no body either....hope this is not bad news..

LOL. also many sick hostages from "application of lulling gas"

[MarMema]

Actually I guess I shouldn't be laughing as they are saying hundreds require hospitalization from shock and gas.

[BrooklynGOP]

Thanks for your VERY timely commentary. And, better translation than the CNN guy.

Yea, he gave me a headache. I wished he would just be quiet so I could hear the russian journalist talk.

[Route66]

Despite the great number of hostages saved that number may be higher than we hoped. This is posted on another thread:

MOSCOW (Reuters) - Up to 130 people could have been killed on Saturday in the storming of a Moscow theater where
Chechen rebels had been holding around 700 hostages, Moscow Mayor Yuri Luzhkov was quoted by Interfax news agency as
saying.

"Unfortunately, there have been victims. I calculate them around 130 people," he said.

It was not immediately clear if that figure included the guerrilla deaths. Officials have already said that 32 of the rebels were
killed in the dawn assault by special Russian troops.