3 murder suspects shot dead after bungled escape attempt at Moscow court
At least three defendants, who were on trial for multiple murder cases, have been gunned down at a court building in the Russian capital, Moscow, after they attempted to disarm the officers escorting them and flee, police say.
The deadly incident occurred on Tuesday, when five handcuffed defendants were in an elevator in the Moscow Region Court, just outside the capital, as they tried to seize their two guards’ weapons, starting a short fight.
“Three suspects have been shot dead and two others injured while trying to make their way from the lift after emergency opening of the doors,” said Tatiana Petrova, the local police spokesperson, in a statement, adding that two police personnel were also wounded and were taken to a nearby hospital.
The prosecutor's office for the Moscow region said it was investigating the shootout incident to establish whether the guards had violated the security procedure for escorting the defendants.
The five defendants plus four other suspects, all from Central Asia, had created a gang dubbed the Grand Theft Auto by Russian media, in a reference to the Grand Theft Auto violent series of video games. They were to have a hearing on Tuesday on charges of murdering 17 motorists and two attempted murders back in summer 2014.
According to prosecutors, the gang of nine was planting spikes on lonely highways, forcing the motorists out of their vehicles and shooting them dead. The incidents terrorized Moscow’s motorists for months. No obvious motives for the murders have been reported yet.
Russia: New US aid for Ukraine will fail to change military situation
Tens of thousands displaced as floods engulf Kazakhstan, Russia
Russia: UN meeting on Iran retaliation ‘display of hypocrisy’
Iran: Downed Israeli quadcopters cause no damage, injuries
VIDEO | Press TV's news headlines
Iran censures US veto of Palestinian request for full UN membership
Over 14,000 kids killed in Israel’s war on Gaza: UNICEF
VIDEO | Iran’s National Army Day marked at the Iranian embassy in Moscow
VIDEO | Iranian culture fosters further development, understanding in SA
VIDEO | People in Amman hold protest in support of Palestinians
French police arrest man after threatening to detonate himself at Iran consulate
This makes it easy to access the Press TV website
