Moscow Shootout: 1 Killed, Several Hostages Taken in Russian Candy Factor

Local Editor

One person has been killed in a shootout at a candy factory in southeastern Moscow, with reports of an ongoing hostage situation.

Police have cordoned off the building of the Menshevik plant in Lyublino district, the Moskva news agency reported Wednesday. It cited an unnamed law enforcement source as saying the shooting took place because of a property dispute.

"One person fell victim to the shooting, three others were wounded," a law enforcement source told the state-run TASS news agency.

An unspecified number of hostages are being held by the suspect, who is reportedly armed with a semi-automatic rifle, according to state-run RIA Novosti news agency.

Russian Interior Ministry reported an unidentified gunman, who opened fire in the Menshevik confectionary factory building in southeast Moscow, claiming the life of at least one person, wounding three and taking several hostages.

"The conflict occurred between business entities on the basis of property disputes at around 9:13 a.m., at Ilovaiskaya street, house 20, building 1. One of the participants wounded the other one. The victim died. The police are taking measures to detain the suspect in the shooting," a representative of Russia's Interior Ministry stated, as quoted by the RIA Novosti news agency, adding that several people have been taken hostage.

The police have cordoned off the area and are trying to contact the attacker to negotiate.

The radio station Business FM reported that it was able to get in touch with Menshevik's director, Ilya Averyanov, the former owner of the factory, who confronted the present owner, the Interfax news agency reports, citing its police sources, by phone.

"My plant was seized with the use of fake documents, they have ruined me," Averyanov is cited as saying.

"I have a service weapon and used it in defense today. Unfortunately, I believe I shot one to death."

Reports claim that a Moscow arbitration court was due to hear the plant's bankruptcy claim on Jan. 18, 2018.

"If I stay alive, I will fight to the end," Averyanov said.

Source: News Agencies, Edited by website team