Gunmen attack parliament building in restive Chechnya

A group of up to four militants broke into the parliament building in the Chechen capital Grozny early this Tuesday morning, sparking fears of a major hostage crisis before security forces moved in to take the deputies to safety.

Officials said that all the militants were killed by the security forces, with reports adding that some had been shot dead while others had killed themselves by detonating suicide charges.

Russian news agency reports said that two militants blew themselves up in suicide blasts and the others were killed in an exchange of fire with security forces.

All deputies are alive and were taken from the territory of the parliament building to safety. However, according to the investigative committee of prosecutors, 17 people were wounded in the incident.