2 hostages freed, unhurt as Russian detention center siege ends

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Two prison guards at a detention center in the southern Russian city of Rostov have been freed without harm after they were taken hostage by Islamic State inmates, the country's prison service said Sunday, adding that several assailants were "liquidated."

"During a special operation ... the criminals were liquidated and the employees taken hostage were freed and were not wounded," the service said in a statement.

The hostage takers, who included some already convicted of terrorism offenses, had knocked out the bars of a window in their cell and entered a guard room where they took at least two prison officers hostage, Russian media reported.

Russian state media said that some of the men were accused of affiliation with the Islamic State militant group, which claimed responsibility for a deadly attack on a Moscow concert hall in March.

TASS news agency reported the hostage takers had prepared for Sunday's action for several months, citing law enforcement agencies, as the Russian Investigative Committee said it has opened a case regarding Sunday's event.

(With input from agencies)