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Hundreds in mass brawl at Moscow cemetery, 3 killed, National Guard deployed (VIDEO) Hundreds in mass brawl at Moscow cemetery, 3 killed, National Guard deployed (VIDEO)
(35 minutes later)
Up to 400 people took part in a mass brawl at a Moscow cemetery, most of them reportedly migrants, armed with bats, sticks, and metal bars. At least three people have been killed in the fight, the Investigative Committee said.Up to 400 people took part in a mass brawl at a Moscow cemetery, most of them reportedly migrants, armed with bats, sticks, and metal bars. At least three people have been killed in the fight, the Investigative Committee said.
At least 29 people have been hospitalized, TASS reported citing Moscow's Health Department. Four of them are in critical condition.At least 29 people have been hospitalized, TASS reported citing Moscow's Health Department. Four of them are in critical condition.
Gunfire was heard at the scene. Police and National Guard forces intervened to deal with the fight.Gunfire was heard at the scene. Police and National Guard forces intervened to deal with the fight.
Some of those involved in the fight were armed with Kalashnikov rifles, a source in law enforcement told TASS.
Eyewitnesses also heard gunfire, saying the shooting lasted for at least 15 minutes.
Some 50 people have been detained, while three tried to flee the scene in a car. They ran over and killed two people.Some 50 people have been detained, while three tried to flee the scene in a car. They ran over and killed two people.
"Police have found and seized firearms at the scene. The conflict has been contained and arrests continue," the Interior Ministry told TASS."Police have found and seized firearms at the scene. The conflict has been contained and arrests continue," the Interior Ministry told TASS.
About 200 people have been participating in the fight, which was taking place at the front entrance to the Khovanskoe cemetery, officials say. Other sources place the number at up to 400.About 200 people have been participating in the fight, which was taking place at the front entrance to the Khovanskoe cemetery, officials say. Other sources place the number at up to 400.
Initial reports that a police officer was killed while trying to intervene in the fight have not been confirmed by police officials.Initial reports that a police officer was killed while trying to intervene in the fight have not been confirmed by police officials.
The shooting and the elevated security in the area caused massive traffic jams near the cemetery. People posted footage from the scene, with the sounds of shooting heard in the distance. The shooting and the elevated security in the area caused massive traffic jams near the cemetery. People posted footage from the scene, with the sounds of shooting heard in the distance. 
"When we were approaching the cemetery, there was only a small traffic jam, with the police gathering nearby. We drove past the cemetery, and started hearing gunshots, but we didn’t pay much attention. And when we were going back, the shots stopped, but the cars along the roads had broken windows. We drove on, and saw some 50 migrants lying on the ground, surrounded by special forces, and medics were carrying a dead body," a witness told Komsomolskaya Pravda radio."When we were approaching the cemetery, there was only a small traffic jam, with the police gathering nearby. We drove past the cemetery, and started hearing gunshots, but we didn’t pay much attention. And when we were going back, the shots stopped, but the cars along the roads had broken windows. We drove on, and saw some 50 migrants lying on the ground, surrounded by special forces, and medics were carrying a dead body," a witness told Komsomolskaya Pravda radio.
One of the visitors to the cemetery told LifeNews that she and her husband were leaving the grounds after visiting their daughters grave. As they stood in the traffic jam on their way out, two large men jumped into the back seat of their car.One of the visitors to the cemetery told LifeNews that she and her husband were leaving the grounds after visiting their daughters grave. As they stood in the traffic jam on their way out, two large men jumped into the back seat of their car.
"Immediately, some 15 people with bats and sticks ran up, they started to hit the car," the woman said. The attackers tried to pull the two men from the car, shouting, "they killed two of ours." The husband got out of the car to stop the attack, and was hit in the temple. He is now in hospital."Immediately, some 15 people with bats and sticks ran up, they started to hit the car," the woman said. The attackers tried to pull the two men from the car, shouting, "they killed two of ours." The husband got out of the car to stop the attack, and was hit in the temple. He is now in hospital.
The conflict at the cemetery didn't happen due to nationality issues, but because of a turf war, the Interior Ministry told Interfax.The conflict at the cemetery didn't happen due to nationality issues, but because of a turf war, the Interior Ministry told Interfax.
Several diasporas participated in the fight, according to the cemetery's administration, as cited by RIA Novosti. Among them were people from the Central Asian former Soviet Republics of Tajikistan and Uzbekistan, who were allegedly attacked by citizens of Chechnya and Dagestan from the North Caucasus. The latter wanted to chase the former from the territory and set up their own businesses providing services for the cemetery. It reportedly yields quite an income.Several diasporas participated in the fight, according to the cemetery's administration, as cited by RIA Novosti. Among them were people from the Central Asian former Soviet Republics of Tajikistan and Uzbekistan, who were allegedly attacked by citizens of Chechnya and Dagestan from the North Caucasus. The latter wanted to chase the former from the territory and set up their own businesses providing services for the cemetery. It reportedly yields quite an income.
“They came and told us, ‘You’d be working for us’. You’ll give us the whole sum, and we’ll give you back 10 percent. We didn’t agree, so they arrived, all armed, about 100 people, and shot people dead, just for that money,” one of the injured told LifeNews.“They came and told us, ‘You’d be working for us’. You’ll give us the whole sum, and we’ll give you back 10 percent. We didn’t agree, so they arrived, all armed, about 100 people, and shot people dead, just for that money,” one of the injured told LifeNews.
A cemetery employee told RIA Novosti the attack had been "planned long ago.""They entered from all sides and beat everyone up and shot at cars, right in front of the clients," he said.A cemetery employee told RIA Novosti the attack had been "planned long ago.""They entered from all sides and beat everyone up and shot at cars, right in front of the clients," he said.
Among the seized weapons, are several out-of-order assault rifles, used to frighten the 'enemy,' a source in law enforcement told RIA Novosti. However, police discovered other lethal and non-lethal weapons.Among the seized weapons, are several out-of-order assault rifles, used to frighten the 'enemy,' a source in law enforcement told RIA Novosti. However, police discovered other lethal and non-lethal weapons.
The entire cemetery is now covered in brick debris, and bullet casings are scattered everywhere.The entire cemetery is now covered in brick debris, and bullet casings are scattered everywhere.
This was the first time the newly formed National Guard has been deployed, with 200 special forces servicemen participating in the operation.This was the first time the newly formed National Guard has been deployed, with 200 special forces servicemen participating in the operation.
The people who started the conflict may be murder suspects, the Interior Ministry reported, as cited by Interfax. They may be those who hit the two victims with a car while trying to escape the scene.The people who started the conflict may be murder suspects, the Interior Ministry reported, as cited by Interfax. They may be those who hit the two victims with a car while trying to escape the scene.
The fight was started by migrants hiding from the migration service, cemetery officials said. "Today's case isn't the first one. Illegal migrants [often] try to hide on cemetery grounds from the migration services. [They] deliberately cause disturbances and behave aggressively towards visitors and administration."The fight was started by migrants hiding from the migration service, cemetery officials said. "Today's case isn't the first one. Illegal migrants [often] try to hide on cemetery grounds from the migration services. [They] deliberately cause disturbances and behave aggressively towards visitors and administration."
The Khovanskoye cemetery is in outskirts of Moscow to the southwest.The Khovanskoye cemetery is in outskirts of Moscow to the southwest.