Editor
Prisoners have taken hostages in a distant jail colony in Russia’s southwestern Volgograd area, authorities say.
Federal jail authorities stated “there are casualties” on account of the hostage-taking within the IK-19 Surovikino facility, about 120 km (74.5 miles) west of regional centre Volgograd, with out specifying numbers.
State information company Tass stated one particular person had been killed and 4 folks taken to hospital with accidents.
An unverified picture posted on social media appeared to indicate an inmate holding a knife standing above a bloodied jail guard.
Separately, an unverified video confirmed a person apparently brandishing a knife, standing in a jail courtyard.
Emergency companies stated three prisoners have been concerned within the hostage-taking. It was unclear what number of hostages had been taken.
Authorities stated they have been making ready to free the hostages.
Volgograd area Governor Andrei Bocharov stated the hostage-taking posed “no menace to the civilian inhabitants”.
The Kremlin stated President Vladimir Putin had been briefed on the state of affairs.
The Volgograd hostage-taking is the second such incident this summer time, after six prisoners who pledged allegiance to the Islamic State group captured two guards at a facility within the neighbouring Rostov area.
Five prisoners have been killed and a sixth sentenced to twenty years in jail following the assault.
Prosecutors stated that they had opened a case referring to a hostage taking.
IK-19 Surovikino is a high-security penal colony. It is believed to carry about 1,200 inmates.
