End of Hostage Crisis in Moscow - 2002-10-26

The hostage crisis in Moscow has ended as Russian forces stormed a theater where Chechen rebels had taken hundreds of people hostage. In this assault, 750 hostages were rescued, but 67 hostages and four rebels were killed. Russian officials later stated that Russian forces had seized the building and killed the leader of the Chechen rebel group. Dozens of ambulances rushed to the scene, and according to a spokesperson for the Russian security forces, the hostages, numbering over 700, have been freed. The battle began early this morning shortly after two hostages were killed and two others were injured. The theater was seized by the rebels on Wednesday night during a performance. The rebels demanded the announcement of an end to the war in Chechnya by the Russian President and the withdrawal of Russian forces from Chechnya, threatening to kill the hostages if their demands were not met. The latest reports indicate that at least 90 hostages and 50 Chechen rebels were killed during the liberation of the Moscow theater hostages. Russian special forces ended the hostage crisis that began on Wednesday night with an assault on the building. About 700 hostages were freed, with hundreds hospitalized due to gas inhalation that was pumped into the building to incapacitate the hostage-takers. According to a Russian Interior Ministry official, 30 accomplices of the Chechen separatists have been arrested. The rebels stormed the building while armed with weapons and explosives during the theater performance. The hostage-takers demanded that the Russian government withdraw its soldiers from Chechnya, threatening to start executing hostages from early this morning. According to the Interior Ministry, the special forces' assault began after the rebels started carrying out their threats.