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Gun battles erupt in Chechnya's capital after militants launch attack Gun battles erupt in Chechnya's capital after militants launch attack
(about 1 hour later)
Militants have attacked buildings in Chechnya’s capital Grozny, prompting gun battles that left at least three police officers and six insurgents dead, with unconfirmed reports of more casualties. Militants have attacked buildings in Chechnya’s capital, Grozny, prompting gun battles that left at least nine police officers and six insurgents dead.
Accurate information on how many gunmen were involved in the attacks in the early hours was not available on Thursday morning, nor whether the situation had been brought under control. There were rumours that groups of gunmen still active in locations across the city. The fighting broke out hours before the Russian president, Vladimir Putin, gave his annual state of the nation address in Moscow.
Kremlin-backed Chechen leader, Ramzan Kadyrov, has often used tough and often violent security methods in recent years, and attacks by Islamic insurgents are now rare. But the region remains volatile, and attacks in the neighbouring republics of Dagestan and Ingushetia are more frequent. The Kremlin-backed Chechen leader, Ramzan Kadyrov, has used tough and often violent security methods in recent years, and attacks by Islamic insurgents are now rare. But the region remains volatile, and attacks in the neighbouring republics of Dagestan and Ingushetia are more frequent.
Russia’s anti-terrorist committee said militants had occupied Grozny’s Press House, which was later destroyed, killing six of the gunmen. Russian agencies later reported that 10 law enforcement officers had been killed in Grozny and a further 28 injured. According to the authorities, three cars carrying militants drove into Grozny overnight, killing three traffic police officers who tried to stop them. According Russia’s anti-terrorist committee, three cars carrying militants drove into Grozny overnight, killing three traffic police officers who tried to stop them.
The gunmen were later holed up in a school, though it is not believed that any students or teachers were present at the time. All schools in Grozny were closed on Thursday and a “counter-terrorist operation” status was introduced in the city by Russian authorities, which allows for enhanced security measures and the use of force. The operation against the gunmen left 10 security officers dead in total and injured 28, the committee said in a statement quoted by Russian news agencies.
On Thursday, Kadyrov uploaded a photograph on Instagram of what appeared to be the lower half of a dead body on the street. The committee said militants then occupied Grozny’s Press House, which was later destroyed, killing six of the gunmen.
The gunmen later holed themselves up in a school, though no students or teachers were present at the time, RIA Novosti quoted its vice principal as saying. Russian state television showed video footage of security officers firing automatic weapons and grenade launchers at the three-story building.
All schools in Grozny were closed on Thursday and a “counter-terrorist operation” status was introduced in the city by Russian authorities, which allows for enhanced security measures and the use of force.
Kadyrov, who travelled to Moscow for Putin’s address, told journalists afterwards that the security operation was over. “We have found the bodies of nine [militants], but they [the security officers] are continuing to search,” the Interfax news agency quoted Kadyrov as saying.
Earlier on Thursday, Kadyrov uploaded a photograph on Instagram of what appeared to be the lower half of a dead body on the street.
“Dogs will die like dogs,” he wrote. “The operation to destroy the bandits is entering its final phase. Six terrorists have already been destroyed and not one of them will be allowed to leave. I am personally leading the operation.”“Dogs will die like dogs,” he wrote. “The operation to destroy the bandits is entering its final phase. Six terrorists have already been destroyed and not one of them will be allowed to leave. I am personally leading the operation.”
Kadyrov had earlier asked residents of Chechnya to phone in information about “people who are behaving suspiciously and could be linked to [the terrorists]”. A video posted to the Kavkaz Centre website, which North Caucasus Islamic insurgents often use for communication, featured a man speaking Chechen who said the gunmen were acting on the orders of the rebel leader, Emir Khamzat.
A video posted to the Kavkaz Centre website, which North Caucasus Islamic insurgents often use for communication, featured a man speaking Chechen who said the gunmen were acting on the orders of the rebel leader Emir Khamzat.
“There are already results; Allah has destroyed them using our hand,” says the man in the clip.“There are already results; Allah has destroyed them using our hand,” says the man in the clip.
The attack comes on the day when Vladimir Putin is scheduled to give an annual speech to the assembled Russian elite in the Kremlin. The state of the nation address will be watched particularly closely this year, after Russia’s relations with the west have worsened owing to events in Ukraine, and the rouble has slid to historic lows amid western sanctions and falling oil prices. Putin addressed the violence in Grozny during his state of the nation speech, describing the attackers as “rebels”, and suggesting that they were receiving support from abroad.