In a chilling incident at the IK-19 Surovikino penal colony in Russia's Volgograd region, knife-wielding inmates with apparent connections to the Islamic State (IS) group killed at least three prison guards during a violent prison siege on Friday. The assailants, who had taken several employees and convicts hostage, were neutralized by Russian special forces after an intense standoff.

According to Russia's Federal Penitentiary Service (FSIN), four criminals armed with knives seized eight colony employees and four convicts during a disciplinary commission meeting. Disturbing photos shared by pro-Kremlin Telegram news outlet Mash depicted bloodied guards with prison inmates brandishing knives. Unverified videos circulating on Telegram showed the alleged attackers claiming affiliation with IS and seeking revenge for the Crocus City Hall terror attack that occurred earlier in the year.

During the ordeal, the assailants brutally stabbed the employees, including those who resisted. Conflicting reports emerged regarding the fate of a fourth prison guard, while three were confirmed dead. However, law enforcement officials, as quoted by the TASS news agency, revealed that the situation was ultimately resolved after Russian National Guard's special forces snipers in the Volgograd region took precise shots, neutralizing all four inmates and freeing the hostages unharmed.

Governor Andrei Bocharov stressed that the incident at IK-19, which houses over 1,200 inmates and is located west of Volgograd, did not pose a threat to public safety. Nonetheless, the Investigative Committee of Russia, responsible for probing major crimes, initiated a criminal case in connection with the hostage-taking. Punishable by a maximum sentence of life imprisonment, this incident marks the second prison hostage situation to occur in southern Russia this summer.

President Vladimir Putin was informed of the situation by the head of the prison service earlier on Friday. In June, another incident took place in a detention center in the neighboring Rostov region where six prisoners, who pledged allegiance to IS, captured two guards. Five prisoners were killed during the incident, with one later sentenced to 20 years in prison on terrorism charges.

Telegram channels circulating graphic photos purportedly taken at IK-19 also alleged that the prisoners involved in Friday's hostage-taking might also have ties to the Islamic State terrorist group.

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