The hostage-takers are threatening to detonate explosives if Russian police stage a rescue attempt.

Nord-Ost (North-East) is a popular family show for Russian audiences

Russian special forces were quickly on the scene

Armoured vehicles and regular troops have sealed off the area

Russian police said the rebels freed about 200 people, including women, children, Muslims and some foreigners

Released hostages were immediately taken to a police bus

But many relatives have been waiting for news of their loved ones

The raid is said to have been led by Movsar Barayev, nephew of the late Chechen warlord Arbi Barayev

As negotiations with the attackers have so far failed to resolve the crisis, troops were preparing for a tense standoff