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Attack on St. Pete. Gov. Prevented
Five people were arrested in St. Petersburg on Saturday on suspicions of preparing an attempt against the life of Governor of St. Petersburg Valentina Matvienko. Judging from the reaction to the incident, the potential perpetrators are most likely not professionals and were probably apprehended at the planning stage of their crime. They were taken into custody on Thursday night.
Matvienko commented on the rumors about the arrests on Saturday morning at her traditional meeting with officials and journalists. She was accompanied by only one bodyguard them although usually security is increased markedly after such incidents. She said she felt “calm and assured,” but complained that “a leak from Moscow caused unnecessary concern.” Later that day, she took part in a mass roller skating event, skating the length of Nevsky Prospekt along with 5000 other people.
After Mativenko's comments, the FSB released a statement confirming that an attack had been averted. It said that five people had been arrested and two F-1 grenades and 500 grams of plastic explosives were found in the possession of two of them, residents of Leningrad Region, in the course of searches. Investigations are being carried out under article 30, 277 and 222 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation (“Preparation of an Infringement on the Life of a Government or Public Figure” and “Illegal Storage of Ammunition”). No charges have been pressed against the suspects yet, however.
The early stage at which the plot was intercepted is indicated by the small amount of explosives held by the suspects. Several of those arrested are Chechens. The FSB is not commenting on their motives.
www.kommersant.com
All the Article in Russian as of May 21, 2007
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