Bomb defused at hydroelectric plant in Dagestan

Following two attacks that shook the region earlier this week, a powerful bomb has been defused at a hydroelectric plant in Russia’s republic of Dagestan on Tuesday.

Using a remote-controlled robot, police were able to deactivate the bomb, placed under a 16-tonne oil tank.

Police are now searching for a worker who disappeared shortly after a fire broke out at the plant.

Security analyst Aleksandr Selivanov says the militants behind the attempted attack are aiming to sabotage the authorities’ efforts to assume control over the region.

“They did it, firstly, to show the inability of the authorities at present to provide security,” Selivanov said. “[Also,] infrastructure is one of the key elements to the modernization of the country, and this is a major threat to the people living near those hydroelectric power stations.”