Men Hold Moscow Audience Hostage [Reports of 1000 Hostages]

AP News ^ | OCTOBER 23, 14:03 ET

[McGruff]

MOSCOW (AP) — Armed men entered a Moscow theater Wednesday and took the audience hostage, the Federal Security Service said.

The theater was holding a performance of the musical Nord-Ost, one of the Russian capital's most popular productions.

The Interfax news agency said one of its reporters was inside the theater at the time of the raid. She told them in a telephone call that the men had fired into the air and were preventing the audience from leaving, the agency said.

Police units were on their way to the scene.

[caa26]

Latest from BBC:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/world/europe/2354753.stm

About 20 gunmen have entered a Moscow theatre, firing into the air and holding the audience hostage.
The theatre was holding a performance of the most popular Russian musical Nord-Ost.

Chechen separatists said they were behind the operation and had planted bombs in the theatre.

Children and Muslim members of the audience are understood to have been released.

Police units were reported to be on their way to the scene, as well as a special forces unit.

[McGruff]

BREAKING: France Surrenders!

[cantfindagoodscreenname]

So how did that work? 'Any muslims here before we get started?' 'Oh, me! Me!' 'OK, lessee ya prove it.'

I was wondering the same thing. I could probably be a Muslim for a minute just to get myself out of there, lol.

[BureaucratusMaximus]

I'm sure Mother Russia will side with civilization sooner or later.

There's something about that statement that is both humourous and ironic...I can't put my finger on it.

[OXENinFLA]

Is there any mention of how many people there are in the theater?

About what is the local time over there right now?

[McGavin999]

Prayers for those who are trapped in that audience. What a terrifying nightmare they must be going through.

[Mixer]

.....BREAKING: France Surrenders!.....

Interesting thing is that headline could stay in breaking news all the time and always be relevant :-)

[Tired of Taxes]

Hey there. We've spoken before. Love the beautiful photos! Our three boys are currently 6, 5, and 16 months-old, and we're homeschooling, too. Just wanted to say "hello" again. =)

[agrandis]

Interfax news agency, one of whose reporters was in the theater at the time, said the gunmen had allowed members of the audience to make phone calls and children to be released.

Muslim members of the audience attending the production of "North-East" were also allowed to leave, Interfax said.

My gosh! Sounds like they plan to kill them all.

[McGavin999]

This is NOT going to end until all these creeps are totally exterminated. They can't be rehabilitated, they have to be destroyed. They are defective humanbeings, damaged beyond repair.

[PoisedWoman]

I could probably be a Muslim for a minute just to get myself out of there, lol.

Praise Allah and carry an ugly headscarf.

Seriously, this is so blatantly an alQ or related terrorist attack, Russki public opinion is going to sway very rapidly toward helping us rid the world of Islamofascists. One would think.

[BrooklynGOP]

According to Lenta.ru (russian news site), witnesses are reporting dozens of attackers. They appear to be chechens. They allowed the hostages to use their cell phones to contact their loved ones. Actors of the shows are locked in their dressing rooms. The hostage takers has allowed the children and muslims to leave. No demands have been made so far.

Looks bad :(

[da_toolman]

I just hope that the Russians exhaust all peaceful means towards a resolution, and that they refrain from using force on these peaceful folks.

/sarcasm

[SerpentDove]

concerned BUMP!

[BrooklynGOP]

Keep in mind that they blew up a car bomb next to a mcdonalds just a few days ago.

[laconic]

Your comment, France Surrenders? relates to what? There is not a damned thing that is funny about this. It has been in the AlQaeda playbook to seize public forums and kill all the hostages; they may pull the same stunt here. The Russians have been very cooperative with the US on the Afghan/AlQaeda campaign and the average Russian sides with us 100 percent. I have never heard one good thing about the Chechens or their cause from any expatriates in Russia and that includes a lot of liberals.

[Mo1]

Fox is also reporting a Plane at JFK Airport involving a plane ..

[Lucas1]

CNN- JFK Airport...FBI has interest in an airline from Russia. Breaking on CNN - CNN is saying that information from Moscow is that the FBI should investigate several people on board (the FBI was contacted by officials in Moscow)

[Wordsmith]

Hello again! I'm just starting to have the time to post on FR again after moving to New Hampshire. Our priest and his family, as well as several other parishoners at our church, are Russian immigrants. The Russians have had it very hard recently, I pray this doesn't end in catastrophe, but I am not hopeful.

[Lucas1]

Russian Plane lands at JFK Airport in NYC.

Officials in Moscow have contacted the FBI and instructed them to interview one of the passengers. via CNN