Russian inmates on Friday took staff hostage at a prison colony in the southern Volgograd region during an attack that officials said left four workers hospitalized.
This happened barely two months after Islamic State group-tied prisoners took guards hostage in another facility and ethnic tensions ran high following the IS-claimed Moscow concert hall attack.
According to a statement from Russia’s federal penitentiary service, convicts took hostage employees of the (IK-19) correctional institution.
The statement added that measures are currently being taken to free the hostages.
Volgograd Governor, Andrey Bocharov revealed that four prison staff were hospitalized due to the attack.
“An operational headquarters has been set up to coordinate the work on releasing the hostages.
“Law enforcement and security agencies are carrying out operational activities. There is no threat to the civilian population,” he added.
Meanwhile, Russian President Vladimir Putin said the situation would be discussed at a regular meeting of the country’s Security Council on Friday.