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Moscow school siege: children taken hostage freed Moscow school siege: children taken hostage freed
(about 1 hour later)
A man took more than 20 children hostage at a Moscow school in a short-lived siege that ended with all the children freed, according to early reports. However, one Russian news agency reported that a police officer and a 36-year-old geography teacher were killed during the confrontation. A man took more than 20 children hostage at a Moscow school in a short-lived siege that ended with all the children freed, according to early reports.
The incident took place with the country on high security alert ahead of the Winter Olympics, which start in the southern city of Sochi later this week. However, the man is thought to be a student and does not appear to be part of any organised terror group. However, one Russian news agency reported that a police officer and a 36-year-old geography teacher were killed during the confrontation on Monday.
The man, armed with a rifle, forced a security guard at School 263 in north-east Moscow to let him inside, according to early reports. He then apparently entered a biology class of around 20 15-year-old students. Students from other classes were taken to safety and the police called, but when they arrived the hostage-taker shot at them from a window, injuring one officer. The incident took place with the country on high security alert ahead of the Winter Olympics, which start in the southern city of Sochi later this week. However, the man is thought to be a student and does not appear to be part of any organised terrorist group.
Armed with a rifle, the man forced a security guard at School 263 in north-east Moscow to let him inside, reports said. He then apparently entered a biology class of around 20 students aged 15. Students from other classes were taken to safety and the police called, but when they arrived the hostage-taker shot at them from a window, injuring one officer.
Video footage showed an emergencies ministry helicopter landing near the school and several ambulances rushing to the scene. About an hour after the start of the siege, Russian media reported that all the children had been freed, and a statement from the interior ministry later confirmed this. It was not immediately clear whether the man had made any demands.Video footage showed an emergencies ministry helicopter landing near the school and several ambulances rushing to the scene. About an hour after the start of the siege, Russian media reported that all the children had been freed, and a statement from the interior ministry later confirmed this. It was not immediately clear whether the man had made any demands.
The website Life News said that one police officer was injured, while RIA Novosti news agency reported that one policeman and a teacher had died in the gunfire. The website Life News said that one police officer was injured, while RIA Novosti news agency reported that one officer and a teacher had died in the gunfire.