Moscow Hostage-taking Shocks the World: Roundup

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Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Friday, October 25, 2002

Moscow Hostage-taking Shocks the World: Roundup

The Moscow theatre hostages have been held more than 20 hours but things seem going no better. A hostage called Russian TV station saying that under the physical and psychological distress of the situation, both the terrorists and their captives are becoming more and more vulnerable and anything unexpected may happen.

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The Moscow theatre hostages have been held more than 20 hours but things seem going no better: the terrorists refused to negotiate with Russian government after raising political demands of ending Chechen war; the health condition of over 500 hostages are deteriorating under the threat of extreme actions that could be taken at any time. A hostage called TV station saying that under the physical and psychological distress of the situation, both hostages and terrorists are becoming more and more vulnerable and anything unexpected may happen.

The night of October 23 found Moscow wrapped in rain and snow, but this was not felt by spectators watching a much-loved comedy in a theater hall in southeastern part of the city. Shortly after the second scene opened, dozens of masked gunmen suddenly rushed into the hall, fired shots to the roof and shouted. Some spectators firstly took it as a special scene staged by the play director, but soon realized that happy times had passed as they have fallen into the hands of illegal militant members.

According to people escaped out of the theater, the group of guerrillas is 40 to 50 in number, including a dozen veiled women. They look like Caucasus minorities and speak their own language among themselves. Guns in hand, they threatened the audience to stay on its seats while forced the actors to backstage. Then they announced the attack is aimed at pressing the Russian authorities to stop war in Chechnya.

As is known later, the theater could hold 1163 spectators, but how many people were there when it was stormed? There are news saying more than 700, and others saying over 1000.

Russian government reacted immediately to the siege. Thousand special force soldiers surrounded the five-storey building and dozens of fire engines and ambulances rushed to the spot, waiting for orders. A direction committee led by Moscow mayor Luzhkov and composed by security officials also arrived, while President Vladimir Putin and Prime Minister Mikhail Kasyanov held urgent discussions in the Kremlin.

To ensure safety of the hostages Russian troops agreed to negotiate with the terrorists instead of launching an attack. But the latter only repeated their demand of stopping Chechen war and rejected offer of negotiations. The hostages sent out through mobile phones even more worrying news. First, the terrorists made careful preparations before taking action. Besides the guns in hand, they also planted mines in the hall, so it is very dangerous to make attacks directly. Second, the gunmen said they were victims of war who can not see any hope in life, to prevent Chechen children to become fighters they are now ready to battle with their lives. Third, they were led by Movsar Barayev, the nephew of warlord Arbi Barayev, who reportedly died last year. Great hatred would make him lose his reason.

Before daybreak the hostage-takers released about 180 people, most of them women and children. Currently there are still 500 people remain in the theater, including 67 foreign nationals, Russian security sources said.

Then the terrorists demanded to negotiate with doctors of international organizations, as well as Russian politicians who held a rather mild view on the Chechen issue. But no essential progress was achieved through their talks.

The attack towards innocent people was strongly condemned by leaders of Russian and other countries. In a speech, President Putin addressed that the hostage-taking was formulated by foreign terrorist centers. In order to lead the rescue work in person, Putin canceled his plan to visit Germany and Spain, and decided to send Prime Minister Mikhail Kasyanov to attend the APEC meeting in Mexico. The Russia state Duma also held urgent discussions on rescue of the hostages today.

By PD Online Staff Li Heng

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