Prisoner hostage-taker killed in Minsk penal colony (Updated)

• 21.11.2008, 2:15

A prisoner, who seized a female nurse hostage and demanded a helicopter and big sum of money, was shot dead in penal colony #1 of Minsk at night November 20.

The state television states the criminal was inadequate and hurt the hostage’s hands with a knife. A prison guard proposed he could be taken hostage. The prisoner agreed. He hurt the guard’s neck.

It was decided to carry out an operation on liquidate the criminal. The hostages received medical care, BelaPAN reports referring to the First TV Channel.

The prosecutor’s office of the Frunzenski district of Minsk started a check over taking of hostages in penal colony #1 and liquidation of the prisoner, district prosecutor A. Svirydovich told to Interfax.

“We have begun a procuracy check over this fact. A criminal case hasn’t been instigated yet. The incident happened last night. We are investigating the situation,” A. Svirydovich said.

The Academy of the Ministry of Internal Affaires informed that the officer, proposed himself hostage instead of the nurse, graduated from this education establishment. “He graduated from Penal Law Faculty some years ago,” the agency learnt.