Armed men hold theatregoers hostage

A group of armed men entered a Moscow theatre tonight and held the audience hostage, the Federal Security Service said.

The theatre was holding a performance of the musical Nord-Ost, one of the Russian capital’s most popular productions.

The Interfax news agency said one of its reporters was inside the theatre at the time of the raid and that she told them by phone that the armed men had fired into the air and were preventing the audience from leaving the theatre.

Police units were sent to the theatre, as well as an Alpha special forces unit.

Interfax said its reporter believed there were about 20 men in the group, and also quoted police as saying the same. Interfax said that some children had been let out of the theatre.

The theatre is located in south-eastern Moscow in a working class neighbourhood.

Russian President Vladimir Putin was immediately informed of the hostage taking.

The musical being performed is based on the novel Two Captains by Veniamin Kaverin.

The romantic novel recounts the story of two students and their different destinies during the Soviet times.