Armed Chechens storm theater, take hundreds hostage

MOSCOW -- At least 40 armed Chechen rebels stormed a crowded theater and took hundreds of people hostage in the midst of a musical, threatening early Thursday to shoot their captives and blow up the building if Russian security forces attacked.

Several hours after the rebels rushed the theater, firing automatic weapons, they began communicating with Russian officials by cell phone. The hostage-takers demanded that Russia end the war in Chechnya, a southern region where the army is fighting Islamic separatists.

Some hostages released by the gunmen reported seeing pools of blood. But there was no confirmation of casualties at the theater in a working-class neighborhood of southeastern Moscow, about three miles from Red Square.

The rebels had automatic weapons, grenades, belts with explosives attached, mines and canisters of gasoline, lawmaker Yuli Rybakov said outside the theater.

There was little water or food inside, he said. The raid occurred in wet, freezing weather.

The gunmen told national parliament member Aslanbek Aslakhanov from Chechnya, who was serving as a mediator, that they wanted Russian troops to withdraw from Chechnya and implement a cease-fire, he said. A pro-rebel Web site said Russia had seven days to begin its withdrawal or the theater and hostages would be blown up.

The raid brought home to the very heart of Russia a war seen as far-off by many Russians despite a growing number of military and civilian casualties. The Russian military has been especially tough on rebels, but several hostages, speaking by cell phone to Russian reporters, appealed to security forces not to use force in the Moscow siege.

"There are women, children, foreigners in here," cardiologist Maria Shkolnikova told REN TV.

She said hostage-takers had lost family members in the war.

Russian security forces do not intend to storm the building unless the hostage-takers start killing their captives, said Gennady Gudkov, deputy chairman of the parliamentary Committee on Security.

Troops on alert

Automatic weapons fire rang out on at least four separate occasions. Security forces were on high alert throughout the Russian capital and around power plants after the audacious attack, which appeared to be meticulously planned.

The drama was a blow for President Vladimir Putin, who repeatedly has said Russia has the Chechnya situation under control. Putin scrapped planned trips to Germany and Portugal.