Russian security forces have prevented a series of potentially “resonant” terrorist attacks, destroying almost 170 kg of explosives in the southern Republic of Dagestan. Two policemen and a militant were killed in the operation.
A gunman hiding in a private home in the village of Kirovaul
opened fire on law enforcement officers, fatally wounding two of
them. He was killed by retaliatory fire, the country’s National
Anti-Terror Committee said in a statement.
The militant was preliminarily identified as Alidibir Asudinov, a
bomb expert and an “active member” of the so-called Kizilyurt
gang, who was on the federal wanted list for terrorist crimes.
According to the Anti-Terror Committee, the gang “planned a
series of resonant terrorist attacks” in the Republic of
Dagestan.
“This is confirmed by the 15-liter bucket stuffed with
explosives; ready to use IEDs (improvised explosive devices);
several bags of explosive compounds, with a total weight of 170
kilograms discovered in the building,” the Committee said in
a statement.
A machine gun, a pistol, and several grenades were also
discovered at the site, as well as a mini-van which was
“specially modified for the implementation of a powerful
explosion” and had an IED inside.
Residents in the southern republic, along with neighboring
Ingushetia and Chechnya, have been facing continuous terror
threats.
In Chechnya, five police officers were killed and another 12
injured on Sunday as they attempted to detain a suspected
suicide bomber near a local concert hall. The
planned attack was condemned by the European Union.
“There can be no justification for such an attack against
innocent lives. We express our condolences to the families of the
victims as well as to Russia's government and people. We wish a
quick recovery to all those injured,” an EU statement said.