Suicide Attack In Chechnya Kills Six As Violence Escalates

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Suicide blast rocks Grozny

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sourced by Rhonda J Mangus

At least six people were killed as the result of a suicide attack at a concert hall in the capital of Chechnya today. Officials say the number of casualties would have been much higher if the suicide bomber was not stopped by the police officers 40 meters away from the entrance to the concert hall where he detonated his explosives. Four of the six people killed were police officers. Ten people were injured in the attack and 800 people were evacuated from the concert hall after the explosion. The bombing has been the second in Grozny this month.

In April of this year, Russia has announced the end of its counter-terrorist operation in Chechnya, claiming life in the republic has stabilized. However, violence in the Northern Caucasus region has been on the rise in recent months. On July 15, a Russian human rights activist Natalya Estemirova working in Chechnya was kidnapped and killed. Estermirova's colleagues accused Chechen President Kadyrov of her killing. In June, the motorcade of the president of the neighbouting republic of Ingueshetia Yunus-Bek Yevkurov has been attacked near the city of Nazran.