RUSSIAN inmates on Friday took staff hostage at a prison colony in the southern Volgograd region during attacks that officials said left four workers hospitalised.
The siege comes two months after Islamic State group-tied prisoners took guards hostage in another facility and as ethnic tensions run high following the IS-claimed Moscow concert hall attack.
“Convicts took hostage employees of the (IK-19) correctional institution. Measures are currently being taken to free the hostages. There are casualties,” Russia’s federal penitentiary service said in a statement.
Four prison staff were hospitalised due to the attack, Volgograd governor Andrey Bocharov said.
“An operational headquarters has been set up to coordinate the work on releasing the hostages. Law enforcement and security agencies are carrying out operational activities. There is no threat to the civilian population,” he added.
Russian President Vladimir Putin said the “situation” would be discussed at a regular meeting of the country’s Security Council on Friday.
Videos published on Russian social media appeared to show prison guards covered in blood after being taken hostage.
The clips also showed the hostage-takers holding flags affiliated with IS.
AFP could not verify those images.
Russia’s investigative committee said several prisoners were involved.
Governor Bocharov did not comment on the identity of the hostage takers but alluded to reports they were not Russian citizens.
