11.   The freed hostages told officials that the hijackers were armed with at least one automatic weapon and a bomb, Bischler said.

12.   The hijackers were armed with knives, claimed to have a bomb and identified themselves as rebels from the breakaway Russian republic of Chechnya, Oksuz said.

13.   The three hijackers were armed with something they said was a bomb, an ax and a fire extinguisher.

14.   There was no immediate information on whether the hijacker was armed.

15.   Trubitsyn said the hijackers were armed with one grenade, about two pounds of TNT and a submachine gun.

16.   Trubitsyn said the hijackers were armed with a grenade, about two pounds of TNT and a submachine gun.

17.   Turkish Transport Minister Enis Oksuz said the hijackers were armed with knives and claimed to have a bomb.

18.   It was not known whether the hijacker was armed, but the pilot reported smelling petrol and other highly inflammable susbtances, the FSK spokesman said.

19.   It was not clear how the hijacker was armed, but the pilot reported a strong smell of petrol and other highly inflammable susbtances, the FSK spokesman said.

20.   Police chief Joergen Hoeydahl said no weapons were found on board but police had good reason to believe the hijacker was armed.