Violence in Grozny, Chechnya leaves 19 dead

Authorities in the Caucasus region confirmed that at least 10 police officers were killed and 20 others were injured.

At least 19 people have been killed in a fierce gun battle in the capital of Grozny, in the southwestern Russian republic of Chechnya. Authorities in the Caucasus region have confirmed that at least 10 police officers were killed and 20 others were injured.

Fierce fighting (Photo: AP)

The National Anti-Terrorism Committee said that early on December 4, an unknown armed group in three cars attacked a security checkpoint and killed three traffic police officers in Grozny. They then broke into a 10-story building in the center of the capital, but were stopped by security forces. Fierce fighting lasted for six hours, leaving many soldiers and police dead and the building completely damaged.

Russian anti-terrorist forces have been called in to assist local police in surrounding and raiding an empty school in the capital Grozny, where the group is hiding after retreating. No students or teachers were taken hostage.

Although it has not been confirmed which terrorist group this group belongs to, local authorities believe that this group planned a major terrorist attack in the capital Grozny but failed. People here are advised to be cautious, limit going out and should not stand near windows.

The terrorist attack occurred hours before Russian President V. Putin delivered his annual State of the Nation Address to the Parliament in Moscow. When mentioning the security issue in the volatile region of North Caucasus, President Putin said he believed that local Chechen forces were capable of dealing with “rebels” backed by hostile external forces, aiming to disrupt the country’s security and order./.

According to VOV