The BBC reports that Russian Special Forces are entering the

theatre where 700 people have been held hostage since Wednesday. As CTV leads with Moscow live, explosions can be heard.

UPDATE: A early picture is emerging that terrorists began shoot 2 hostages as their deadline approached, so Russian Special

Forces moved in. Live reports say most hostages escaped, some are injured and are being evacuated. Buses and ambulances are

on the scene.

UPDATE: Live reports from CTV and BBC and Russian TV say the theatre

is now under control of Russian Special Forces. Reports say 36 terrorists have been killed, including leader Mosvar

Barayev and explosives in the building are being disarmed. Some of the terrorists escaped. Early reports say about 20 people

are dead, an unknown number wounded, many, many unharmed. All information is now being filtered through official Russian

channels and the few western journalists on site.