Russian Prison Riot: Hostages Taken by Inmates Claiming ISIS Ties

Inmates at a Russian prison took guards hostage, pledging allegiance to ISIS, resulting in at least four injuries. The incident occurred in Surovkino, southeast of Moscow. Video footage showed armed inmates and injured guards. The situation led to heightened security measures and ongoing response from authorities.

Inmates at a Russian prison have taken guards hostage, declaring their allegiance to the Islamic State group, with at least four people reported injured, according to Russian news sources on Friday.

The incident took place in Surovkino, roughly 860 kilometers southeast of Moscow, although details remain scarce concerning the number of hostage-takers or those captured.

Russian news outlet Meduza released a video purportedly from the scene, depicting men brandishing knives inside the facility and in the prison yard, where individuals in guard uniforms were visibly wounded and lying in pools of blood.

State news agency Tass reported that four victims were transported to a local hospital, with two in serious condition. Unconfirmed updates on Telegram suggested fatalities might include one or two individuals.

In the footage, the alleged perpetrators expressed support for ISIS and those arrested in the March terrorist attack on a Moscow concert hall, which left 145 people dead. The concert hall attack was claimed by an ISIS affiliate, who executed patrons and set the building on fire.

Tass disclosed that court records identified four of the hostage-takers as being from former Soviet Central Asian states, mirroring the origins of the concert hall attack suspects, who all hailed from Tajikistan.

In response, authorities have cordoned off the road to the prison and deployed officers in efforts to resolve the crisis.

(With inputs from agencies.)