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]

that all terrorists had a "control" shot to the head. Spetznaz was making sure.

NO kidding? wow.

[seeker41]

No foreign citizens killed in storming

RosBusinessConsulting. Saturday, Oct. 26, 2002, 10:03 AM Moscow Time

There are no foreign citizens among the killed during the storming of the theater building, a representative of the Australian Embassy in Moscow reported to an RBC journalist.

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Moscow Mayor posts data on terrorists

RosBusinessConsulting. Saturday, Oct. 26, 2002, 9:56 AM Moscow Time

As a result of the operation for rescuing hostages, two terrorists were arrested and 32 killed, Moscow Mayor Yury Luzhkov reported to journalists. The search for the escaped terrorists has continued.

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Data on casualties of storming released

RosBusinessConsulting. Saturday, Oct. 26, 2002, 9:51 AM Moscow Time

Preliminary information about the 130 killed during storming the building of the music hall, was not confirmed. According to specified data, 30 hostages were killed during the operation, Moscow Mayor Yury Luzhkov reported.

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At least 32 terrorists killed in hostage release raid

Interfax. Saturday, Oct. 26, 2002, 9:44 AM Moscow Time

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

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Data on casualties of storming released

RosBusinessConsulting. Saturday, Oct. 26, 2002, 9:41 AM Moscow Time

Preliminary information about the 130 killed during storming the building of the music hall, was not confirmed. According to specified data, 30 hostages were killed during the operation, Moscow Mayor Yury Luzhkov reported.

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All hostages evacuated

RosBusinessConsulting. Saturday, Oct. 26, 2002, 9:25 AM Moscow Time

All hostages were removed from the building and evacuated, a representative of the Emergencies Ministry reported. According to him, the building of the theater was not damaged. It is currently being demined.

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All actors of Nord-Ost musical alive

RosBusinessConsulting. Saturday, Oct. 26, 2002, 9:21 AM Moscow Time

All the actors of the Nord-Ost musical, including children, who were kept hostage in the building of their theater, are alive, Rossiya television reported.

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Body of terrorists' commander recovered

RosBusinessConsulting. Saturday, Oct. 26, 2002, 9:19 AM Moscow Time

In the hall of the theater, the body of the terrorists' commander Movsar Barayev was found. He had a bottle of cognac in his hand, Rossiya television reported. Near the pillars of the hall where children had been kept, corpses of four female terrorists were recovered. There was 800 gram to 1.5 kilogram of explosives strapped to the bodies of each of them. On the floor near the bodies, syringes were found.

[EternalVigilance]

Thank God for the seemingly low casualty figures, at least amongst the hostages.

Thank God also for the death of those who brutally murder innocent men, women and children. They will not be missed.

It's nice to be able to cheer for Russian LE and military people who are protecting the innocent and enforcing the rule of law these days instead of terrorizing a great people themselves like they did for so much of the last century.

How times have changed.

[MarMema]

It is Saudi money spent by Udugov for my money.

[The Great Satan]

all terrorists had a "control" shot to the head.

Hard core! Gotta love that!

[EternalVigilance]

Those pics sure look like they were knocked out before they were shot...but perhaps I'm missing something.

[BrooklynGOP]

Interesting fact just reported by NOVOSTI. There was an Israeli citizen amongst the hostages - a fact that the Israeli embassy did not disclose out of concern for her safety.

[seeker41]

In the hall of the theater, the body of the terrorists' commander Movsar Barayev was found. He had a bottle of cognac in his hand, Rossiya television reported. Near the pillars of the hall where children had been kept, corpses of four female terrorists were recovered. There was 800 gram to 1.5 kilogram of explosives strapped to the bodies of each of them. On the floor near the bodies, syringes were found.

This is puzzling to me. Why did the women have syringes?

[BrooklynGOP]

Nah. Dead people usually look "knocked" no matter what they were doing prior....

[fella]

After 9-11-01 this is just the way I want to see islamiacs.

[seeker41]

See Post 448

[BrooklynGOP]

Drugs maybe? I read in the russian media before, that a lot of chechen rebels use drugs, specially when they have to conduct suicide missions... Didn't know if that was true or propoganda.. I guess we'll find out from hostages' accounts.

[seeker41]

I thought drugs and booze were against their religion. The lead terrorist had a bottle of cognac and the women had syringes?LOL

[Route66]

I'm Interested in the syringes, too.

[EternalVigilance]

Well they must have caught them totally off guard...attained tactical surprise...the women in the theater seating didn't even make it out of their chairs.

If they had had any idea they were coming under attack, you would think they would have hidden themselves on the floor between the seats...or worse yet, set off their explosives.

[seeker41]

What a screwed up religion this islam is!

[Route66]

"Drugs maybe? I read in the russian media before, that a lot of chechen rebels use drugs, specially when they have to conduct suicide missions... Didn't know if that was true or propoganda.. I guess we'll find out from hostages' accounts."

I've often wondered if they don't use drugs on the Palistinian suicide bombers, too. To make them less likely to change their minds at the last minute.

[BrooklynGOP]

I thought drugs and booze were against their religion. The lead terrorist had a bottle of cognac and the women had syringes?LOL

Well, supposedly, these guys got paid per terror act. In fact I read before that they got a certain amount for placing mines, a certain amount for blowing up a tank, etc. So religion wasn't necessarily a driving force behind these islamics.

[BrooklynGOP]

Don't know. Allegedly, a member of spetznaz, told the media that they have used shock grenades.

[MarMema]

I was wondering about that too. Syringes...hope they were not using drugs on the hostages.