Kyiv shooting: 5 killed in Ukrainian capital as gunman takes 4 hostages in shop | World | News
5 people died and 15 people were injured when a person opened fire with an automatic weapon in Kiev, the capital of Ukraine. While Mayor Vitali Klitschko said that there was a child among the injured, Minister of Internal Affairs Ihor Klymenko confirmed that the suspect was killed by special forces.
Reports suggest that he went to a supermarket in the Holosiivskyi district of the city, where he took four people hostage, who were safely rescued. Special forces arrived at the scene on Demeevskaya Street and neutralized the armed attacker, who was identified by the Ukrainian Prosecutor General as a 58-year-old native of Moscow.
A shocking video shows the attacker brandishing an automatic weapon inside the supermarket where he is said to be holding hostages.
A fire broke out at the scene due to suspicion that explosives were ignited. Deputy Oleksii Goncharenko said: “The fire can be seen from the side of the Velmart supermarket, where the terrorists barricaded themselves with hostages.”
Klitschko said that the injured child was taken to the hospital, while the adults were examined and treated at the scene by medical personnel. He said: “A child was among those injured on the street in the Holosiivskyi district.
“Medical personnel take him to hospital. Injured adults are examined and treated at the scene.”
Klymenko later confirmed that the attacker was killed during a Rapid Operational Response Unit police operation at the Velmart Supermarket on Holosiivskyi prospekt in Kiev.
He said: “The gunman was killed during his arrest in Kiev. Special forces of the National Police KORD unit raided the store where the attacker was. During the arrest, he took people hostage and opened fire on police officers.
“Before this, negotiators had tried to contact him. The number of victims is being determined. There are deaths and injuries.”
Volodymyr Zelensky confirmed that an investigation into the shooting had been launched by the police and security services.
The President of Ukraine said: “Ukrainian Minister of Internal Affairs Ihor Klymenko reported that the attacker who opened fire on civilians in Kiev was neutralized. All circumstances related to the incident are being investigated.
“5 deaths have been detected so far. I offer my condolences to the families and relatives of those who lost their lives. So far, 10 people have been hospitalized with injuries. Necessary assistance is being provided to everyone.
“Four hostages were successfully rescued. We expect the investigation to begin immediately. Investigators from the National Police and the Security Service of Ukraine are working on the incident.
“I instructed the Minister of Internal Affairs and the Head of the National Police of Ukraine to make available to the public all verified information regarding this incident.”
