MOSCOW—Security troops invaded a southern Russian detention facility on Sunday, murdering prisoners who were allegedly affiliated with the terrorist organization ISIS and holding two staff members hostage, according to state-funded television station RT.
Social media images showed many ambulances arriving at the prison, and journalists on the site reported hearing gunshots.
The Russian Federal Penitentiary Service confirmed in a statement that the captives at the Rostov-on-Don pretrial detention facility were unharmed. The statement indicated that the hostage-takers had been "liquidated," but it made no other remarks.
It was claimed by several local news agencies, including RT, that at least a few of the detainees had died.
Six hostage takers were reportedly equipped with a fire ax, a rubber baton, and a penknife in the central courtyard of the Detention Center No. 1 in the Rostov area, according to official news outlet Tass, which had earlier reported this information using anonymous law enforcement sources. It stated that males who are incarcerated are allegedly connected to ISIS.
At least two of the hostage-takers looked to be wearing headbands that resembled the ISIS flag in photos that were shared on social media. Other pictures had inmates brandishing blades.
According to Tass, three of the hostage-takers have previously been found guilty of a number of offenses, including planning to blow up a Russian courthouse and spreading extremist propaganda. Tass added that the decision had not yet been enforceable, but one of the guys had been given a term of 18.5 years in jail, while the other two had been given 18 years.
In recent years, ISIS has attacked Russian territory several times. The last incident occurred in March when gunmen opened fire on a crowd at a music venue in a Moscow suburb, killing 145 people. An branch of ISIS claimed responsibility for the attack.
