23 Aug 2024 20:52

Several dead from actions of criminals who took hostages at prison in Russia's Volgograd region - governor

VOLGOGRAD. Aug 23 (Interfax) - The hostage-takers at the IK-19 correctional facility in Russia's Volgograd region have been eliminated, some people have died because of actions of the criminals, the press service for the regional administration said, citing governor Andrei Bocharov.

"The criminals were eliminated during a special operation to free hostages at IK-19. Unfortunately, some people died from actions of the criminals," Bocharov was quoted in the statement as saying.

The families of the dead will receive assistance, those injured are being provided with full necessary medical help, he said. Law enforcement agencies are continuing with investigative procedures.

The Russian Federal Penitentiary Service said earlier on Friday that inmates of Penitentiary No. 19 in the Volgograd region had taken hostages during a disciplinary commission meeting.

After the taking of the hostages three people were sent into intensive care, the Surovikino district central hospital told Interfax.

Two people injured after the takeover of the penal colony were critical and two were in a state of moderate severity, the regional health committee's chairman Anatoly Sebelev said.

A criminal case was opened on counts of taking hostages and disorganizing the penitentiary's operations.

Penitentiary No. 19 of the Federal Penitentiary Service's branch in the Volgograd region is located on the outskirts of Surovikino. It is a high-security penitentiary with a maximum permissible population of 1,229 inmates.