Homeland Security

Masterminds of attack on Ingush president killed - FSB chief

RIA Novosti

11:53 13/10/2009 MOSCOW, October 13 (RIA Novosti) - The militants who organized an assassination attempt on the president of the North Caucasus Republic of Ingushetia have been killed, the head of the Federal Security Service said on Tuesday.

"The crime committed against President of Ingushetia Yunus-Bek Yevkurov in June has been solved. Its organizers - the chiefs of the 'Ingush dzhamaat' group, named Dzortov and Aliyev, have been killed during a combat operation. The investigation into this case is ongoing," Alexander Bortnikov said.

Yevkurov underwent a series of operations in Moscow after sustaining head and internal injuries when a car bomb exploded as his motorcade passed on June 22. The region has seen a surge in militant violence in recent months.

Bortnikov said that militant activity in some North Caucasus republics increased during the summer despite anti-terrorism measures taken by federal and regional authorities.

"Bandits have started to use the tactic of suicide bombers, and the number of armed attacks on law enforcement bodies and authorities has increased," said Bortnikov, who also chairs the National Counterterrorism Committee.

Attacks on troops, police and other officials have been reported almost daily in Ingushetia and Russia's other North Caucasus republics in recent months. On August 17, Ingushetia was rocked by a suicide bombing which killed at least 20 people and injured 260 people.