Photojournalist Yusuf Sayman says the Hotel Moskva in Simferpopl was stormed today by what he thought might be Russian special forces.
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Channel 4 News international editor Lindsey Hilsum offered her account of the incident as well.
The receptionist at Moscow Hotel says the armed masked men who entered were 'training'. Right. #Crimea
— Lindsey Hilsum (@lindseyhilsum) March 15, 2014
Ar entrance of #Moscow hotel. Man fm interior ministry says armed men burst in on 'anti terror training.' pic.twitter.com/sVd2qTQrEB
— Lindsey Hilsum (@lindseyhilsum) March 15, 2014
Armed masked men on 4th floor of #Moscow Hotel #Simferopol. We're in reception. Won't let us out. No panic, nothing too dramatic.
— Lindsey Hilsum (@lindseyhilsum) March 15, 2014
Gunmen still on at least one floor of Hotel Moscow #Simferopol.
— Lindsey Hilsum (@lindseyhilsum) March 15, 2014
Journalists in lobby of Hotel Moscow or in rooms. 2 gunmen just came down stairs and out back. #crimea #simferopol
— Lindsey Hilsum (@lindseyhilsum) March 15, 2014
Minister of defence of #Crimea in Moscow hotel says 'nothing is happening'. That wld be why armed masked men are in our hotel.
— Lindsey Hilsum (@lindseyhilsum) March 15, 2014
False alarm?
Min if Defence of #Crimea says there is 'false alarm'. Says number of armed men in hotel is secret.
— Lindsey Hilsum (@lindseyhilsum) March 15, 2014
3 armed men just left as journalists filmed. Said 'We've broken one camera, do you want us to break more?'
— Lindsey Hilsum (@lindseyhilsum) March 15, 2014
More masked armed men leave hotel Moscow #Simferopol. But still some inside. pic.twitter.com/UZDAXnqShi
— Lindsey Hilsum (@lindseyhilsum) March 15, 2014
Just saw room service trolley go up in lift a few mins after armed masked men came down stairs! #simferopol #hotelmoscow
— Lindsey Hilsum (@lindseyhilsum) March 15, 2014
Here’s the incident from two other perspectives:
Great. Heavily armed men in combat fatigues and ski masks on all floors of my hotel, the Moskva, this evening. Welcome to Russia, Crimea
— Guy Chazan (@GuyChazan) March 15, 2014
Apparently it's a "training exercise", to avert potential terrorist threats. They're all sitting in the lobby of my floor now, chatting.
— Guy Chazan (@GuyChazan) March 15, 2014
@derek_brower I said to them – like guys, WTF? One said, we're here for your own protection. you never know WHAT might happen.
— Guy Chazan (@GuyChazan) March 15, 2014
Right, so my hotel is besieged by gunmen with silenced Kalashnikovs. Hotel Moskva, Simferopol
— Simon Shuster (@shustry) March 15, 2014
Some are masked commandos in camouflage, others plain clothes with black beanies and jeans, seem to be special forces
— Simon Shuster (@shustry) March 15, 2014
Commando: "There is an armed criminal in the building. We are carrying out a special operation"
— Simon Shuster (@shustry) March 15, 2014
6th floor of hotel Moskva right now pic.twitter.com/UoZnx5pTCl
— Simon Shuster (@shustry) March 15, 2014
Gunmen have released me from 6th floor after patting me down for guns. Now in the lobby, no one armed down here #Crimea #simferopol
— Simon Shuster (@shustry) March 15, 2014
Police spokeswoman in lobby: "This is a planned training operation. We had one last month. Has nothing to do with referendum." #crimea #lies
— Simon Shuster (@shustry) March 15, 2014
When commando told me they are looking for "armed criminal," his fellow gunmen tried to hush him. "What, just tell it like it is," he said
— Simon Shuster (@shustry) March 15, 2014
I've seen no insignia on any of the gunmen seizing my hotel in Simferopol. Most in jeans and leather jackets, only one in full military camo
— Simon Shuster (@shustry) March 15, 2014
Some of the gunmen arrived in this van, no plates, no stickers, masked man now waiting in driver's seat pic.twitter.com/nkTmOxiM8S
— Simon Shuster (@shustry) March 15, 2014
There are no military or police vehicles outside besieged hotel in Simferopol, only this van, windows fully tinted pic.twitter.com/teStF15grB
— Simon Shuster (@shustry) March 15, 2014
A few more gunmen just arrived at hotel Moskva in Simferopol, masked and in camo pic.twitter.com/wEginic0IC
— Simon Shuster (@shustry) March 15, 2014
Crimea defense Minister Kuznetsov: His troops are responding to a threat made by Kiev govt as part of its information war against Crimea
— Simon Shuster (@shustry) March 15, 2014
Siege appears to be over, hotel floors clear. Crimea defense minister came and ordered them out. Says his men didnt find any "armed criminal
— Simon Shuster (@shustry) March 15, 2014
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