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CNN Sunday Morning
Death Toll From Hostage Crisis in Moscow Rises to Over 100
Aired October 27, 2002 - 07:17 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
ARTHEL NEVILLE, CNN ANCHOR: In Moscow, Russian forces saved hundreds of lives when they stormed a theater where Chechen rebels held about 800 hostages. Still, the rescue costs more than 100 innocent lives. Some of the hostages who were hospitalized were released today.
CNN's Matthew Chance is live in Moscow with an update -- Matthew.
MATTHEW CHANCE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Thanks, Arthel, and the rising death toll, though, is dampening the sense of relief and achievement that immediately followed the ending of that hostage crisis by Russian special forces on Saturday morning local time. One hundred eighteen of those hostages are now confirmed dead, confirmed to us, that number coming to us from the Russian Health Ministry, as well, of course, as the 50 or so rebels that were also killed in that special forces operation.
Hundreds of freed hostages are still being treated in various hospitals around Moscow. Some have physical injuries, gunshot wounds, and the such like, but the vast majority are being treated for the effects of inhaling a mystery gas that was pumped into the auditorium of the theater in the moments before the Russian special forces troops burst in to bring the siege to an end.
Anxious relatives have been gathering outside hospitals across Moscow hoping to catch a glimpse of their loved ones or to get some news on their condition. They're not being allowed in by the authorities at this stage. Russian officials saying that they're still screening the hostages to make sure there where no Chechen rebels amongst them, trying to pass themselves off as hostages to escape the Russian authorities.
Inevitably, that is creating some anger amongst the family members outside. We spoke to one man who had two grandchildren in that siege, that hostage crisis, that are now being treated inside a Moscow hospital, very angry that such a potent gas was used by the authorities to bring this siege to an end. Let's listen to what he had to say.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE (through translator): This is a good tactic when it doesn't poison the people, but if the gas has such an effect on the people, it was a mistake.
(END VIDEO CLIP) CHANCE: There's been no official word on what exactly that gas was. It's being described variously by Russian officials as sleeping gas, or a special substance. We know it was pumped into the auditorium through ventilation shafts. According to witnesses, it caused very intensive drowsiness, very quickly, not just to the hostage takers, of course, but also to the hostages themselves, and there is still a great deal of questions about what long term effects these hostages might suffer -- Arthel.
NEVILLE: Absolutely, Matthew, and of course, people are mourning the death of loved ones, and as you said, there's an array of emotions there including anger. Wondering now much heat Vladimir Putin is taking on this situation.
CHANCE: Well, the first reaction, of course, Arthel, from the Russian people and the citizens of Moscow was one of great pride, that the Russian special forces had managed to dramatically bring this hostage crisis to an end, to deliver a message to the Chechen rebels, you know, this kind of behavior, this kind of act, would not be tolerated by the Russian authorities. Vladimir Putin, the Russian president, went on air as saying that his forces had achieved the impossible and demonstrated to the world and to the Chechen rebels that "they would not kneel," in his words, but as these questions continue to rise over the Russian tactics and the use of this mystery chemical agent, then there may be some questions raised in the minds of many people in Russia.
NEVILLE: Matthew Chance, Moscow -- thank you very much. Definitely a "catch 22" situation.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
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Aired October 27, 2002 - 07:17 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
ARTHEL NEVILLE, CNN ANCHOR: In Moscow, Russian forces saved hundreds of lives when they stormed a theater where Chechen rebels held about 800 hostages. Still, the rescue costs more than 100 innocent lives. Some of the hostages who were hospitalized were released today.
CNN's Matthew Chance is live in Moscow with an update -- Matthew.
MATTHEW CHANCE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Thanks, Arthel, and the rising death toll, though, is dampening the sense of relief and achievement that immediately followed the ending of that hostage crisis by Russian special forces on Saturday morning local time. One hundred eighteen of those hostages are now confirmed dead, confirmed to us, that number coming to us from the Russian Health Ministry, as well, of course, as the 50 or so rebels that were also killed in that special forces operation.
Hundreds of freed hostages are still being treated in various hospitals around Moscow. Some have physical injuries, gunshot wounds, and the such like, but the vast majority are being treated for the effects of inhaling a mystery gas that was pumped into the auditorium of the theater in the moments before the Russian special forces troops burst in to bring the siege to an end.
Anxious relatives have been gathering outside hospitals across Moscow hoping to catch a glimpse of their loved ones or to get some news on their condition. They're not being allowed in by the authorities at this stage. Russian officials saying that they're still screening the hostages to make sure there where no Chechen rebels amongst them, trying to pass themselves off as hostages to escape the Russian authorities.
Inevitably, that is creating some anger amongst the family members outside. We spoke to one man who had two grandchildren in that siege, that hostage crisis, that are now being treated inside a Moscow hospital, very angry that such a potent gas was used by the authorities to bring this siege to an end. Let's listen to what he had to say.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE (through translator): This is a good tactic when it doesn't poison the people, but if the gas has such an effect on the people, it was a mistake.
(END VIDEO CLIP) CHANCE: There's been no official word on what exactly that gas was. It's being described variously by Russian officials as sleeping gas, or a special substance. We know it was pumped into the auditorium through ventilation shafts. According to witnesses, it caused very intensive drowsiness, very quickly, not just to the hostage takers, of course, but also to the hostages themselves, and there is still a great deal of questions about what long term effects these hostages might suffer -- Arthel.
NEVILLE: Absolutely, Matthew, and of course, people are mourning the death of loved ones, and as you said, there's an array of emotions there including anger. Wondering now much heat Vladimir Putin is taking on this situation.
CHANCE: Well, the first reaction, of course, Arthel, from the Russian people and the citizens of Moscow was one of great pride, that the Russian special forces had managed to dramatically bring this hostage crisis to an end, to deliver a message to the Chechen rebels, you know, this kind of behavior, this kind of act, would not be tolerated by the Russian authorities. Vladimir Putin, the Russian president, went on air as saying that his forces had achieved the impossible and demonstrated to the world and to the Chechen rebels that "they would not kneel," in his words, but as these questions continue to rise over the Russian tactics and the use of this mystery chemical agent, then there may be some questions raised in the minds of many people in Russia.
NEVILLE: Matthew Chance, Moscow -- thank you very much. Definitely a "catch 22" situation.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
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