Hostage crisis in Russian prison: Fatalities reported

Prisoners started a riot in a penal colony in the Volgograd Oblast in the southwestern part of Russia. Special forces were called to the scene. The attackers, who are holding hostages, are demanding the delivery of a helicopter and $2 million, according to the Shot channel.

The incident occurred on Friday in the maximum security penal colony number 19, in the town of Surovikino. This facility houses 1,230 prisoners serving their sentences.

An assault on the facility is being prepared, informed the independent service Meduza.

A video recorded by the attackers has appeared online, according to Novaya Gazeta.Europe, the person recording the video spoke in Arabic and mentioned the so-called Islamic State (IS).

The video shows at least five prison service officers (FSIN) lying on a blood-covered floor. The attackers were armed with knives. According to information provided by the Shot service, the attackers claimed to have connections with the terrorist organization IS.

Media report fatalities and injuries. According to the Baza channel, three people died on the spot, and two managed to escape. FSIN reported that one of their officers was killed. The Interfax agency wrote that the condition of three injured people is serious.

The Russian propaganda agency TASS reported that there are three attackers. A mullah, an interpreter of religious laws and doctrines of Islam, has been brought in for negotiations. The Mash channel provided this information.

The Shot channel reports that the attackers are demanding $2 million, a helicopter with a pilot, and an open-air corridor to fly to the "southeast" and escape Russia.

This is the second hostage-taking incident in a Russian penal colony in recent months. The previous incident took place in June in Rostov-on-Don. The attackers were armed with knives and had flags of the so-called Islamic State with them.