Four prisoners took guards hostage in a prison in a dramatic incident in Volgograd, Russia.
This lead to a standoff that ended with the assailants being “neutralized” by Russian National Guard forces. The attack has been claimed by the Islamic State (ISIS).
On Friday, Russian authorities reported that the situation unfolded when the four inmates attacked prison staff and seized control of a section of the facility.
The Russian National Guard confirmed that elite snipers were deployed and successfully neutralized the attackers with precise shots. While the authorities confirmed that the hostages were released, they also reported that there were fatalities among them during the hostage crisis.
An unverified video circulated by Russian media showed a disturbing scene inside the prison, with blood on the floor and the attackers lying motionless. In the video, two men, identified as members of ISIS, can be seen discussing the situation in Arabic, with one holding a knife and threatening a presumed guard.
Not an Isolated Incident
This incident is not an isolated event. Earlier in June, members of ISIS were involved in a hostage situation at a prison in the Rostov region, not far from Volgograd, which resulted in the deaths of two prison officers, according to L'independent.
While ISIS's presence in Russia is limited, the group has been responsible for several high-profile attacks in the country, raising concerns about the security landscape.
In March, ISIS claimed responsibility for an attack on Crocus City Hall, a concert venue near Moscow, which left 145 people dead—the deadliest assault in Russia in nearly two decades.
