TEMPO.CO, Moscow - Three russian security officers and four gunmen were killed in a shootout in Dagestan on Wednesday, January 15, 2014, during a sweep for militant groups that threatened to attack Sochi Winter Olympics in February.
According to Reuters, Russia’s National Anti-terrorism Committee (NAC) said the dead gunmen included a man accused of carrying out a bomb attack in the city of Pyatigorsk late last year, which killed three people.
In this sweeping operation, a militant group was trapped in a house in the village of Karlanyurt in the Dagestan region of North Caucasus. Five security officers were wounded.
The Dagestan region has been deemed as basis for Islamist militants. They are accused of constantly conducting acts of terror and shootings, with the police and state officials as their targets, in their fight to establish an Islamic country.
After two suicide bombings in southern Russia last month, Moscow has strengthened its security. President Vladimir Putin has staked his persona and political prestige on the Olympics.
ANINGTIAS JATMIKA | REUTERS
