Russian National Guard secures prison and rescues hostages

Security forces have successfully stormed the Volgograd prison where several inmates had attacked prison officers and taken hostages earlier on Friday, the Russian National Guard has confirmed. All of the terrorists involved have reportedly been neutralized.

According to the WarGonzo Telegram channel, one of the hostage-takers was wearing a purported suicide belt which failed to detonate.

The identities of the attackers have been confirmed, according to media reports citing court records. One of the four was a convicted murderer while the other three were serving time for drug trafficking charges. All were reportedly natives of Uzbekistan and Tajikistan.

“Snipers from the special forces of the Russian National Guard in the Volgograd region neutralized four prisoners who had taken prison workers hostage with four precise shots,” the law enforcement agency said in a statement.

A dozen people were taken hostage during the attack, according to Russia’s Federal Penitentiary Service (FSIN) –  eight prison guards and four inmates. Three guards died after receiving fatal stab wounds, while the others remain hospitalized. The four inmates who were taken hostage were also injured.

The prison service vowed to provide all the necessary support to the families of the deceased.

Paramedics tried to resuscitate two of the attackers, who were in critical condition after being hit by snipers according to the SHOT Telegram channel. However, both of eventually died; the other two culprits were shot dead during the storming of the facility.