One security officer dead, two injured after militants open fire in Russia's Kazan (VIDEO)

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Published time: October 24, 2012 13:23
Edited time: October 24, 2012 20:51

RIA Novosti / Maksim Bogodvid; Video by Youtube user ihtonov88

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Clashes, Police, Russia, Security, Terrorism

Law enforcement agencies in the Russian Republic of Tatarstan conducted a special operation to eliminate militants suspected of earlier attacks on local religious leaders. An FSB operative died during the fight, and another was wounded.

The operation, which began earlier in the day, turned deadly when militants opened fire on security officials. Two operatives were wounded, with one later succumbing to his injuries in a later hospital.

One of the militants eliminated during the fight was later discovered to be wearing a so-called suicide belt, which is an explosive device worn on the body. Bomb techs are working at the scene to diffuse it.

Officials also discovered a number of guns, ammunition and explosive materials in the apartment where the militants were hiding.

Authorities enacted the CTO counter-terrorism protocol, restricting movement in and around Kazan. Local residents were evacuated and offered accomodation at nearby hotels. Authorities are promising to release the scene and allow people to return to their homes within 24 hours.

Eyewitnesses reported hearing gunfire and explosions in the area where the militants wereholed up. MI-8 helicopters were also seen in the sky over the scene.

According to sources within the law enforcement agencies involved in the operation, the militants were planning to detonate explosives during the city's celebrations of Kurban-Bairam, an important Muslim holiday.

The building where the militants were hiding is located right next to a public school. Children who were attending classes there have been moved to rooms in the school's basement, for their safety.

According to the Investigative Committee spokesman Vladimir Markin, the militants that were killed were wanted for questioning. They were suspected of being involved in the attack on the republic's religious leaders in July.

RIA Novosti / Maksim Bogodvid

Comments (14)

GREATBRITAIN (unregistered) 24.10.2012 22:49

@REMEMBER BESLANCold war lense?. Ever wondered why 90% of the content on this site is aimed at the US, Israel, UK and so-on?. Judging by this website, run by the Kremlin, the cold war never ended.

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Man on the street 24.10.2012 19:59

The US is no longer a free country that is governed by leaders who cares about its people, and its interest. The American policies is made to please the two super-lords the Israeli, and the Saudi.these two influence peddlers are financing most of political campaigns, and control the agenda. Otherwise, there cannot be an explanation of why we are trying to destroy a secular regime (Syria), to replace it by el Qaida regime? Especially after what happened in Benghazi, and is happening in Afghanistan.

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US/Al-Qida/Islamic Terrorists - the never ending bonding (unregistered) 24.10.2012 18:33

Seymour Hersh, in his 2007 New Yorker article, “The Redirection Is the Administration’s new policy benefitting our enemies in the war on terrorism?” (covered in depth here) compiled interviews from Bush administration officials, as well as Saudi and Lebanese politicians who openly admitted that weapons, cash, and support were already being lent to extremist groups, many with direct ties to Al Qaeda and the Muslim Brotherhood. Hersh would report:“To undermine Iran, which is predominantly Shiite, the Bush Administration has decided, in effect, to reconfigure its priorities in the Middle East. In Lebanon, the Administration has coöperated with Saudi Arabia’s government, which is Sunni, in clandestine operations that are intended to weaken Hezbollah, the Shiite organization that is backed by Iran. The U.S. has also taken part in clandestine operations aimed at Iran and its ally Syria. A by-product of these activities has been the bolstering of Sunni extremist groups that espouse a militant vision of Islam and are hostile to America and sympathetic to Al Qaeda.” -The Redirection, Seymour Hersh (2007) Hersh’s report would continue:
“the Saudi government, with Washington’s approval, would provide funds and logistical aid to weaken the government of President Bashir Assad, of Syria. The Israelis believe that putting such pressure on the Assad government will make it more conciliatory and open to negotiations.”

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