'45 Moscow Hostages Died From Bullet Wounds'

IOL (South Africa) ^ | 10-29-2002

[blam]

'45 Moscow hostages died from bullet wounds'

October 29 2002 at 11:21AM

Moscow - Forty-five of the 117 hostages killed during the Moscow hostage drama died from gunshot wounds, Interfax reported on Tuesday, quoting the Moscow prosecutor.

The statement contradicted earlier statements that 115 people had succumbed to a powerful gas used by special forces in their operation to rescue more than 800 hostages held by Chechen rebels in a Moscow theater.

Prosecutor Mikhail Avdyukov said that 43 hostages were shot dead during the rescue operation while two others were killed before the raid by special forces early on Saturday.

"Among them (the hostages who died of gunshot wounds) are 43 hostages, Muscovite Olga Romanova, who was shot dead as she tried to enter the theatre as well as a man, whose identity has not been established," Avdyukov was quoted as saying. - Sapa-AFP

[E. Pluribus Unum]

This was the right thing to do. If you negotiate with kidnappers, you encourage more kidnapping. The next potential kidnappers have much less incentive now.

[blam]

"This was the right thing to do. If you negotiate with kidnappers, you encourage more kidnapping. The next potential kidnappers have much less incentive now."

I agree. Some FReepers were expressing concern last night that the next attack will/may be on the nuclear facilities just outside Moscow.

[homeschool mama]

bump

[BrooklynGOP]

Forty-five of the 117 hostages killed during the Moscow hostage drama died from gunshot wounds, Interfax reported on Tuesday, quoting the Moscow prosecutor.

I don't believe this to be true. If it was it would be a huge news and its not on ANY russian wires, not even Interfax to which this article refers.

[workinggirl]

This has been retracted. Only 2 died of bullet wound. Go to gazeta.ru, there is a retraction there.

[piasa]

Some of the hostages reported that the terrorists had already started to kill the hostages; no one said how many were killed before the operation began to free them...

Although the way this report is written, it gives the weird impression the author wants you to think the Russians were shooting hostages.Or at least doesn't want people to think the terrorists did it.

[templar]

I don't believe this to be true.

Morning news about a half hour ago (didn't pay attention to which network) reported that only two of the hostages died of bullet wounds. Wonder if we'll ever know with the Russians probably considering actual numbers to be a matter of national security. I do support what the Russians did. I don't think they had many other options.

[joesnuffy]

The terrorists didnt expect gas?
Wonder why they didnt have gas masks?
Kinda wierd for pros

[ffrancone]

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[blam]

"Wonder why they didnt have gas masks?"

I read on FR last night that some did have gas masks but, the terrorists passed out before they got the masks on. (?)

[mass55th]

We'll never know the real story about the hostages and how they died. Russia is still too caught up in the secrecy thing.

[lsee]

One report I read (I'll try to find it) said that the terrorists did have repirator masks, but one witness was quoted in the articles as saying the gas worked so fast they didn't have time to position the masks on their faces.

[Ivan Ivanov]

Office of Moscow Prosecutor Mikhail Avdyukov has refuted message Interfax about death of 43 hostages from bullet wounds.

45 corpses having bullet wounds were found after storm.
43 of them are corpses of the terrorists.
For the rest two corpses - the investigation will clear up the data about their death later.

Furthermore 117 hostages were lost.
As Ross Business Consalting Agency has reported.


Don't hurry with reaction on every sensation from Russia. Our bureaucrates can be tongue-tied. Our journalistes can be malicious.

[blam]

Thanks for the correction.