In pictures: Moscow theatre siege ends

The siege of a Moscow theatre where Chechen rebels were holding hundreds of people hostage came to a dramatic end early on Saturday when the building was stormed by Russian special forces.

Russian special forces stormed the theatre as officials feared hostages were being killed

Dozens of hostage-takers were reported killed, while others were arrested

About 750 hostages were released after a gun battle at the theatre

For the freed hostages, it was the end of a harrowing ordeal

Russian special forces disarmed explosives inside the theatre and secured the building

Movsar Barayev, the Chechens' ringleader, was killed in the raid

His group had held about 700 Russians and foreigners captive