MOSCOW: An attack on an Orthodox church Saturday in the mainly Muslim southern Russian republic of Chechnya killed two policemen and a civilian and left four rebels dead, officials said.
“According to early information, two policemen in charge of security at the church ... and a civilian were killed,” the officials said. They added that “four rebels have been eliminated” while two other policemen were hurt.
They also indicated a knife and a gun were found on the attackers behind the assault targeting the Archangel Michael church in central Grozny, and said police had prevented “more serious consequences and a larger number of victims.”
Chechen President Ramzan Kadyrov had earlier told Russian news agencies that rebels acting “on the orders of a Western country” were seeking “to take believers hostage” in a troubled republic where Russia has fought two fierce wars with separatists over the past 20 years.
In June 2015, the rebels swore allegiance to Daesh and the region has provided a steady stream of extremists to both Syria and Iraq.
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Police, rebels among 7 killed in Chechnya church attack
Police, rebels among 7 killed in Chechnya church attack
- A knife and a gun were found on the attackers behind the assault targeting the Archangel Michael church in central Grozny
EU’s Kallas urges Afghanistan and Pakistan to de-escalate, engage in dialogue
The European Union’s foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas on Saturday called for Afghanistan and Pakistan to de-escalate and engage in dialogue after a sharp increase in violence between the South Asian countries.
“The EU reiterates that Afghan territory must not be used to threaten or attack other countries and calls on the Afghan de facto authorities to take effective action against all terrorist groups operating in or from Afghanistan,” Kallas said in a statement.
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