Report: Prisoners with IS links take guards hostage in Russian detention center

MOSCOW — Six detainees, some with links to Islamic State, took guards hostage at a pre-trial detention center in Russia’s southern region of Rostov and demanded free passage in negotiations with the authorities, Russian media reported Sunday.

The men, who include some already convicted of terrorism offenses, knocked out the bars of a window in their cell and entered a guard room where they took at least two prison officers hostage, the Baza Telegram channel said.

State media said that some of the prisoners were accused of terrorism offenses including affiliation with the Islamic State militant group, which claimed responsibility for a deadly attack on a Moscow concert hall in March.

Russia’s Federal Penitentiary Service said two employees of a pre-trial detention center in Rostov were taken hostage.

“The institution operates as usual, the situation is under control,” the service said on the Telegram messaging app.

It added that law enforcement agencies were on site.

Pictures from the scene showed roads being closed off around the detention center.

The Interfax news agency said the prisoners had demanded a car and free passage. 
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