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Moscow theater hostage crisis

Updated: 12/11/2025, 2:21:29 PM Wikipedia source

The Moscow theater hostage crisis, also known as the 2002 Nord-Ost siege, was the seizure of the crowded Dubrovka Theater in Moscow by Chechen terrorists on 23 October 2002, resulting in the taking of 912 hostages. The attackers, led by Movsar Barayev, claimed allegiance to the Islamist separatist movement in Chechnya. They demanded the withdrawal of Russian forces from Chechnya and an end to the Second Chechen War. The crisis was resolved when Russian security services released sleeping gas into the building, and subsequently stormed it, killing all 40 hostage takers. 132 hostages died, largely due to the effects of the gas. Due to the layout of the theater, special forces would have had to fight through 30 metres (100 ft) of corridor and advance up a well-defended staircase before they could reach the hall in which the hostages were held. The attackers had numerous explosives, with the most powerful in the center of the auditorium. Spetsnaz operators from Federal Security Service (FSB) Alpha and Vympel, supported by a Russian Ministry of Internal Affairs (MVD) SOBR unit, pumped a chemical agent into the building's ventilation system and began the rescue operation. The identity of the gas was not disclosed at the time, although it was believed to have been a fentanyl derivative. A study published in 2012 concluded that it had been a mixture of carfentanil and remifentanil. The same study pointed out that in a 2011 case at the European Court of Human Rights, the Russian government stated that the aerosol used was a mixture of a fentanyl derivative and a chemical compound with a narcotic action.

Infobox

Date
23–26 October 2002(4 days)
Location
Moscow, Russia 55°43′32.5″N 37°40′24.5″E / 55.725694°N 37.673472°E / 55.725694; 37.673472
Result
Crisis ended Numerous civilian casualties caused by narcotic gas pumped in by Russian security forces

Tables

Civilian deaths by nationality · Casualties
Russia
Russia
Country
Russia
Number
121
Ukraine
Ukraine
Country
Ukraine
Number
3
United States
United States
Country
United States
Number
1
Belarus
Belarus
Country
Belarus
Number
1
Austria
Austria
Country
Austria
Number
1
Bulgaria
Bulgaria
Country
Bulgaria
Number
1
Netherlands
Netherlands
Country
Netherlands
Number
1
Kazakhstan
Kazakhstan
Country
Kazakhstan
Number
1
Azerbaijan
Azerbaijan
Country
Azerbaijan
Number
1
Armenia
Armenia
Country
Armenia
Number
1
Total
Total
Country
Total
Number
132
Country
Number
Russia
121
Ukraine
3
United States
1
Belarus
1
Austria
1
Bulgaria
1
Netherlands
1
Kazakhstan
1
Azerbaijan
1
Armenia
1
Total
132

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