Several terrorists associated with the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS), who were serving time at IK-19 prison in the Surovikinsky district in the Volgograd region of Russia, took control of the facility on Friday (23rd August).
As per reports, the terrorists killed 3 prison guards and severely injured 7 others including the head of the prison Andrey Devyatov. At the same time, they took several victims hostage.
The injured prison guards were shifted to an Intensive Care Unit (ICU). The incident occurred when prison authorities were engaged in a meeting of the disciplinary commission.
A group of Islamic State terrorists has seized the IK-19 prison in Surovikino, Volgograd Oblast, Russia. Several Russian Federal Penitentiary Service officers have been killed and several more are being held hostage. pic.twitter.com/u24qCuvzMB
— Special Kherson Cat 🐈🇺🇦 (@bayraktar_1love) August 23, 2024
In videos that have surfaced on social media, ISIS terrorists were seen chanting ‘Alhmadulliah’ and holding a prison guard hostage at knifepoint.
Dead bodies of other prison officials could be seen lying on the floor of the room. According to reports, the terrorists are now demanding a helicopter and 2 million USD as ransom.
After the news of the incident spread, security forces were rushed to the crime scene. A state of emergency was also declared in the region.
🚨🚨⚡️⚡️ تحذير المحتوى 🔞🔞🔞🔞
— رؤى لدراسات الحرب (@Roaastudies) August 23, 2024
🚨⚡️ قبل قليل من داخل السجن pic.twitter.com/9BpXljmueI
In a statement, the Federal Penitentiary Service of Russia (FSIN) stated, “In connection with the emergency at IK-19 of the Federal Penitentiary Service of Russia in the Volgograd Region, a group of employees from the central office of the Federal Penitentiary Service of Russia (FSIN) immediately left for the region to conduct an inspection.”
A criminal case was initiated by the Investigative Committee of Russia. Negotiations are underway to secure release of prison officials who were taken hostage by the ISIS terrorists.
