At least four dead after shooting in Russia's Chechen parliament

[News_Editor]

At least four dead after shooting in Russia's Chechen parliament

2010-10-19 14:07:07 GMT+7 (ICT)

GROZNY, RUSSIA (BNO NEWS) -- At least four people were killed on Tuesday after attackers broke into the parliament building of Russia's Chechen parliament, Russian news agencies reported.

The RIA news agency reported that a vehicle carrying terrorists drove in with cars carrying lawmakers. One of them blew himself up, killing two people, and two others broke into the building.

The Interfax news agency, however, reported that four staff members were killed during the attack after two militants blew themselves up. The parliament was evacuated but at least one militant is holding a hostage. The agency added that two security guards were killed during the special operation to eliminate the militant group.

According to Interfax, Russian Interior Minister Rashid Nurgaliyev is holding an emergency meeting with Ramzan Kadyrov, the Chechen president, and Chechen Interior Ministry officials following an attack.

Russian agencies also reported that the Agriculture Ministry in the volatile southern Russian region was raided by militants in a separate attack.

Russia's mainly Muslim North Caucasus republics, especially Chechnya, Dagestan and Ingushetia, have seen an upsurge of militant violence lately, with frequent attacks on police and officials.

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