Suicide bomber kills five police in Chechnya

A suicide bomber killed at least five police officers and wounded 12 others yesterday during festivities in Grozny, the capital of Russia's troubled North Caucasus region of Chechnya, Russian news agencies reported.

The site of two separatist wars and a festering Islamic insurgency, Chechnya has seen relative calm under the strong-arm rule of Moscow- backed leader Ramzan Kadyrov. Suicide bombings have been rare.

The attack took place at a concert hall where festivities were planned to celebrate Grozny’s city day holiday, also Mr Kadyrov’s birthday.

Young attacker

“Police officers who were manning metal detectors at the entrance of the concert hall noticed a suspicious young man. When the police officers decided to check the individual, the man blew himself up,” a local police officer told RIA news agency.

There were no reports of civilian deaths or injuries.

Following the Chechen separatist wars in 1994-1996 and 1999-2000, the insurgency spread across the predominantly Muslim North Caucasus region.

The attack is the first major act of violence since the death of insurgent leader Doku Umarov in a clampdown during Russia’s hosting of the Winter Olympics in Sochi, on the western edge of the Caucasus Mountains.

Mr Kadyrov has vowed to wipe out the militants. He said the suicide bomber arrived dressed like a policeman. He was a 19-year-old who disappeared two months ago, agencies reported police as saying.

In Kabardino-Balkaria, 200km west of Chechnya, security officials also killed two militants yesterday, state television said. – (Reuters)