Posted on 27-10-2002

Russian Forces Storm Siege Theatre
>From www.bbc.co.uk, Saturday, 26 October, 2002, 10:51 GMT

Russian security forces have brought a sudden and dramatic end to the
three-day siege in a Moscow theatre, where hundreds of people were being
held hostage by Chechen rebels. Vladimir Vasilyev, Russian Deputy Interior
Minister The head of the Russian security service, Nikolai Patrushev, said
34 Chechen rebels were killed in the raid and a number of others were
arrested. He said none had escaped.

But up to 90 hostages were also killed during the rescue operation, Russian
Deputy Interior Minister Vladimir Vasilyev has acknowledged. He said more
than 750 had been saved. Earlier reports suggested that no more than 10 of
the hostages had died. Nearly 350 people were taken to hospital, many in a
serious condition, the French news agency AFP quoted medical sources as
saying. Most of the casualties were suffering from severe gas poisoning.
Troops had released sleeping gas into the theatre to subdue the rebels
before they stormed the complex at about 0600 local time (0200 GMT).

The rebel leader, Movsar Barayev, was among those who died in a fierce gun
battle between the rebels and hundreds of the heavily-armed special forces.
The BBC's Jonathan Charles, who is at the scene, says this was not a
planned operation but one which was triggered by events. Reports say
Russian President Vladimir Putin was only informed of the operation after
it began. Mr Putin later visited some of the survivors in hospital.

Booby traps

The rescue operation began when some of the hostages tried to escape after
the rebels shot two of their captives and injured at least two others. In
the ensuing panic, the hostages inadvertently set off booby traps laid in
the theatre by the rebels. Russian special forces then rushed to their aid,
engaging in a pitched gun battle which lasted more than an hour.

About two hours later, the Russian television channel ORT showed pictures
of the theatre strewn with bodies, some severely mutilated, others with
their heads down as if they had passed out. Officials said none of the
special forces had been killed or injured in the operation. "We succeeded
in preventing mass deaths and the collapse of the building which we had
been threatened with," said Russian Deputy Interior Minister Vladimir
Vasilyev.

Our correspondent said the hostages looked shocked and terrified as they
emerged. A number of hostages were brought out unconscious, ORT reported.
For some time after securing the theatre, troops searched the extensive
building for any remaining attackers and explosives. Russian Interior
Minister Boris Gryzov said about 30 accomplices of the rebels had been
arrested in the Moscow area.

Sleeping gas

At least 20 ambulances were seen carrying casualties away from the scene.
Forty-two survivors were taken to Moscow's Sklifosovsky hospital suffering
the effects of poison gas, said doctor Vladimir Ryabinin. Their condition
was described as poor. The Russian authorities have not released any
details of which gas was used. The assault came three days after the
Chechens seized control of the Palace of Culture theatre, about 4
kilometres (2.7 miles) south-east of the Kremlin. Hundreds of Russians and
foreigners were inside the theatre, watching a performance of the popular
musical Nord-Ost. The rebels threatened to shoot the audience and blow up
the building if Russian security forces intervened. They demanded the
withdrawal of Russian troops from Chechnya and an end to the war there.

On Friday, the rebels released 19 hostages, but negotiations to release
others broke down.