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The Kadyrov Mosque in Grozny, Chechnya: the North Caucasus region has struggled to suppress an Islamic insurgence in recent years. Wikimedia Commons
Chechnya

Two police shot dead as Chechen parliament attacked

Police officers are killed after the Chechen parliament is attacked by four gunmen and a suicide bomber – all of whom are killed.

Updated 08:59

TWO POLICE OFFICERS have been killed after the regional parliament of Chechnya was attacked by two gunmen and a suicide bomber earlier this morning.

Russian agency RIA Novosti reported that a vehicle carrying the terrorists had joined a motorcade of parliamentarians entering the parliamentary complex in the city of Grozny.

The two armed men jumped out of the car and headed towards the building, where they entered into an armed battle with guards outside of the building, fatally wounding at least two. Other reports suggest further shooting took place inside the building’s cabinet room, and also in the office of the speaker.

The driver of the vehicle, meanwhile, detonated himself.

The local interior ministry said the parliament had been seized, and a number of hostages – reportedly including a senior aide to the Speaker – were taken by the attackers. RIA Novisti now reports, however, that the situation has been neutralised with law enforcement officers killing all four of the militants involved.

Chechen president Ramzan Kadyrov, a Kremlin appointee, had taken direct command direct command of the operation to remove the terrorists.

The North Caucasus region of Russia, where Chechnya is situated, has seen a growing Islamic insurgency in the past years as the impoverished regions turn their back on the Kremlin, which they believe is doing little to improve their regional economies.

The BBC reports that Moscow had declared victory in the long-standing battle with Chechen separatists, though local security remains particularly tight in the face of continuing attacks.