Nato say eight of the hostage takers were killed.

北约称，八名劫持者被击毙。

youdao

Hostages and hostage takers trapped by seige, and some surprising things unfold.

人质和劫持者被围困，然后意想不到的事情发生了。

youdao

We have never ruled out the possibility that the hostage takers may have received advance notice or other assistance from sympathisers who were aware of the hostages' visit to the ministry that day.

我们从来没有排除过如下的可能：绑匪可能从其同情者那里事先得到了通知或其他帮助，而后者可能获悉人质当天要来访问。

youdao

"We have believed for some time that he has been killed. I call today again in the strongest terms for the hostage takers to return Alan's body as soon as possible,".

VOA: standard.2009.12.30

The White House, for its part, has firmly pinned the blame for the civilian deaths on the hostage takers.

BBC: US identifies deadly Moscow siege gas

His reports documented how Russian special forces pumped lethal gas into the theatre auditorium to subdue the hostage takers before storming in.

CNN: CNN Profiles - Matthew Chance - Senior International Correspondent

"Regardless of the motivation of the hostage takers, there is no justification for the kidnapping and murder of innocent people, " he said.

CNN: STORY HIGHLIGHTS