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.

[McGruff]

Doesn't sound good.

[mitchbert]

Beat me to it, McGruff. I've asked for my post to be deleted. News breaking on BBC website. No further details yet.

[Wordsmith]

Must be domestic nutcases. Russian NRA members. < /sarcasm >

[SamAdams76]

I wonder how long it will take Russia to come around to our side of the War on Terrorism.

[caa26]

Early specualtion would be Chechnya terrorists. This doesn't seem good at all. This is right out of the Al Qaeda playbook.

[McGruff]

from Reuters

Armed Men Seize Moscow Theater

Last Updated: October 23, 2002 02:11 PM ET

MOSCOW (Reuters) - A group of armed gunmen seized a Moscow theater staging a musical late Wednesday, firing shots in the air and holding a number of people hostage, police in the capital said.

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.

Police teams rushed to the scene but there were no initial reports of casualties. Police said it was not immediately clear how many people were involved in the incident or how many people were attending the show.

[Mixer]

I wonder how long it will take Russia to come around to our side of the War on Terrorism

I am not going to hold my breath waiting that is for sure. Look at the French. They had an oil tanker rammed by terrorists, they know it is terrorists yet they still have not switched to our sides. I imagine Russia will come over sooner then Franch though.

[FourtySeven]

It sounds series.

[cantfindagoodscreenname]

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

It's as if the terrorists are egging on the countries who don't want to go along with the U.S. and begging them to change their minds.

[Wordsmith]

Must be domestic nutcases. Russian NRA members. < /sarcasm >

[Squantos]

FYI......Stay Safe !

[texson66]

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


What? Do the moose-limbs carry secret ids just in case of
a hostage situation??

[caa26]

The wolrd-wide muslim jihad is picking up steam everyday. Wonder what it will take for the liberal & socialists of Europe to recognize?

[Wordsmith]

Sorry for the double post.

Sorry for the double post.

Sorry, bit of humor to lighten a dark situation. Prayers for our fellow Russian innocent targets.

[Snake65]

It's civilization versus barbarism. I'm a cultural (not political!) Slavophile...I'm sure Mother Russia will side with civilization sooner or later.

[Dog]

FYI!

[John_11_25]

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.

Sounds like what they did just before flying the planes into the WTC. (Except for the children).

Once they have the "World Media's" Attention, I think this will turn out very bad.

[txhurl]

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

Do muslims have a tattoo or something?

[b4its2late]

Doesn't sound good.

Especially when the secret police get a hold of them. Say bye-bye. There's no Gitmo in Moscow.