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MOSCOW, Russia (CNN) -- Russian officials say 36 of the Chechen hostage-takers were killed early Saturday after Russian forces stormed the building where the rebels were holding some 700 hostages.
Some of the Chechen captors may have escaped, according to Russia's deputy interior minister, Vladimir Vasilyev.
It is still not clear how many hostages were killed or injured in the ordeal. Russia's Interfax reported two of the hostages were killed in the hours before the activity intensified, and two others -- a woman and man -- suffered head injuries, a rescue official told the news agency.
Vasilyev said the Russian forces were able to save many lives by preventing the explosion of the building.
The dramatic end to the three-day standoff came just before a dawn deadline set by the terrorists, who threatened to begin killing the remaining hostages if the Russian government did not meet their demand to end the war in Chechnya .
The rebels had also said they would execute hostages if any attempt was made to storm the building. The assault on the building began shortly before dawn.
As troops moved in, loud explosions and heavy gunfire could be heard.
The rebels included at least 30 men and 10 women, all of them armed with machine guns and most with explosives strapped to their bodies. They had said they were prepared to die for their cause, taking with them as many "sinners" as possible.
Officials confirmed that Movsar Barayev, the ringleader of the Chechen terrorist group, was among the captors killed.
Hostages who managed to escape had told authorities there was a huge bomb in the center of the hall and that all the entrances to the building had been mined.
"Most of the hostages have been saved and medical assistance is being provided to the persons who were wounded during this operation," he said.
At least 20 bodies were removed from the theater, according to Russian officials. It was not clear whether the casualties were hostages or rebels.
Vasilev, said Russian special forces sustained some injuries after storming the building, but none was serious.
A Russian official said the rebels started shooting their hostages. After the two hostages were killed and two were wounded several hostages attempted to escape and came under fire from the rebels.
At this point, the Russian official said, special forces troops opened fire to aid the escaping hostages and the full-scale assault on the theater followed.
According to some reports, in the moments before entering the building sleeping gas was pumped into the building to make the captors drowsy.
Russian troops and security forces were seen running, armored personnel carriers and trucks began moving in the streets around the theater, according to observers on the scene.
The activity began with a single blast and was followed by a series of explosions of different sizes. Bursts of automatic gun fire went on for a period of about 15 minutes before dying down. Later, a large number of ambulances were seen leaving the scene.
Chechen rebels freed four hostages Friday. A Russian security spokesman said the three women and one man were Azerbaijani citizens.
Heavily armed Russian security forces had had the complex surrounded since shortly after the siege began Wednesday night.
During the siege, several influential officials, including a former Russian prime minister, entered the theater complex for talks with the hostage-takers.
A Russian spokesman said Friday that the Chechen rebels would be allowed to leave freely if they released the hostages unharmed.
Earlier Friday, the captors released eight children, between the ages of 6 and 12, and seven Russian citizens before ending talks with Red Cross representatives.
The Chechens had indicated they would release the estimated 75 non-Russians, who represent 14 countries including Germany, Austria, Switzerland, the Netherlands, Australia, Britain and the United States, but that deal broke down later in the day, according to Red Cross officials.
The rebels did agree to allow Russian officials to bring food and water to the hostages, and doctors were allowed to examine them. However, the hostages hadn't had a full meal since the ordeal began.
Russian President Vladimir Putin had said the hostage situation was "formulated abroad" by "the same criminals who have terrorized Chechnya for many years," according to Russia's Interfax news agency.
The audience was there to see "Nord Ost," a popular production of a classic Russian musical, when suddenly the rebels stormed the building during the second act on Wednesday evening.
Russian forces withdrew from Chechnya after a 1994-96 war but they returned in 1999 and have since occupied most Chechen territory. Moscow blames Chechen militants, who say they are fighting for independence, for a series of bombings in Russia that killed more than 300 people.
Some of the Chechen captors may have escaped, according to Russia's deputy interior minister, Vladimir Vasilyev.
It is still not clear how many hostages were killed or injured in the ordeal. Russia's Interfax reported two of the hostages were killed in the hours before the activity intensified, and two others -- a woman and man -- suffered head injuries, a rescue official told the news agency.
Vasilyev said the Russian forces were able to save many lives by preventing the explosion of the building.
The dramatic end to the three-day standoff came just before a dawn deadline set by the terrorists, who threatened to begin killing the remaining hostages if the Russian government did not meet their demand to end the war in Chechnya .
The rebels had also said they would execute hostages if any attempt was made to storm the building. The assault on the building began shortly before dawn.
As troops moved in, loud explosions and heavy gunfire could be heard.
The rebels included at least 30 men and 10 women, all of them armed with machine guns and most with explosives strapped to their bodies. They had said they were prepared to die for their cause, taking with them as many "sinners" as possible.
Officials confirmed that Movsar Barayev, the ringleader of the Chechen terrorist group, was among the captors killed.
Hostages who managed to escape had told authorities there was a huge bomb in the center of the hall and that all the entrances to the building had been mined.
"Most of the hostages have been saved and medical assistance is being provided to the persons who were wounded during this operation," he said.
At least 20 bodies were removed from the theater, according to Russian officials. It was not clear whether the casualties were hostages or rebels.
Vasilev, said Russian special forces sustained some injuries after storming the building, but none was serious.
A Russian official said the rebels started shooting their hostages. After the two hostages were killed and two were wounded several hostages attempted to escape and came under fire from the rebels.
At this point, the Russian official said, special forces troops opened fire to aid the escaping hostages and the full-scale assault on the theater followed.
According to some reports, in the moments before entering the building sleeping gas was pumped into the building to make the captors drowsy.
Russian troops and security forces were seen running, armored personnel carriers and trucks began moving in the streets around the theater, according to observers on the scene.
The activity began with a single blast and was followed by a series of explosions of different sizes. Bursts of automatic gun fire went on for a period of about 15 minutes before dying down. Later, a large number of ambulances were seen leaving the scene.
Chechen rebels freed four hostages Friday. A Russian security spokesman said the three women and one man were Azerbaijani citizens.
Heavily armed Russian security forces had had the complex surrounded since shortly after the siege began Wednesday night.
During the siege, several influential officials, including a former Russian prime minister, entered the theater complex for talks with the hostage-takers.
A Russian spokesman said Friday that the Chechen rebels would be allowed to leave freely if they released the hostages unharmed.
Earlier Friday, the captors released eight children, between the ages of 6 and 12, and seven Russian citizens before ending talks with Red Cross representatives.
The Chechens had indicated they would release the estimated 75 non-Russians, who represent 14 countries including Germany, Austria, Switzerland, the Netherlands, Australia, Britain and the United States, but that deal broke down later in the day, according to Red Cross officials.
The rebels did agree to allow Russian officials to bring food and water to the hostages, and doctors were allowed to examine them. However, the hostages hadn't had a full meal since the ordeal began.
Russian President Vladimir Putin had said the hostage situation was "formulated abroad" by "the same criminals who have terrorized Chechnya for many years," according to Russia's Interfax news agency.
The audience was there to see "Nord Ost," a popular production of a classic Russian musical, when suddenly the rebels stormed the building during the second act on Wednesday evening.
Russian forces withdrew from Chechnya after a 1994-96 war but they returned in 1999 and have since occupied most Chechen territory. Moscow blames Chechen militants, who say they are fighting for independence, for a series of bombings in Russia that killed more than 300 people.