Deadly Prison Assault Linked to Islamic State in Southern Russia

In a shocking incident at a maximum-security prison in Surovikino, southern Russia, four inmates affiliated with the Islamic State (IS) group launched a violent attack, resulting in the deaths of four prison guards. The attackers, identified as two Tajik and two Uzbek nationals, claimed their actions were a form of revenge for a March terrorist attack in Moscow that left 145 people dead. During the standoff, graphic videos circulated on social media, showing the guards lying motionless in pools of blood, while the assailants brandished knives and improvised weapons. The Federal Penitentiary Service reported that the inmates took eight guards and four fellow inmates hostage during a disciplinary meeting. Three guards died on the scene, while a fourth succumbed to injuries later in the hospital. In response, Russian special forces intervened, with snipers reportedly neutralizing the attackers and freeing the hostages. However, the exact number of hostages released remains unclear, and conflicting reports have emerged regarding the total casualties. President Vladimir Putin was briefed on the situation and convened a security council meeting to assess the incident. The prison, designated as a "harsh regime" facility, has a capacity of over 1,200 inmates and has seen a rise in Islamist militant activities in recent months. This incident follows a similar uprising in June, where six IS-linked detainees were killed during a hostage situation in Rostov-on-Don. Authorities are now investigating the circumstances surrounding the attack, as concerns grow over the increasing frequency of Islamist-related violence in Russia.