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Tensions Mounting in the Elbrus Region
A powerful bomb was found in the Elbrus area of Kabardino-Balkaria and a bridge was blown up after a rebel attack on police. Investigators say that the sudden rise in rebel activity is connected to the end of the investigation of the attack on Nalchik in 2005 and the upcoming 450th anniversary of Kabardino-Balkaria's voluntary unification with Russia. The area is popular with tourists because of the sports opportunities provided by Mt. Elbrus.
A bomb weighing 15 kg. was found on Friday in the Elbrus area of the republic in the woods near a base belonging to Kabardino-Balkaria State University. It contained nails and metal shavings and was set to go off. Bomb specialists defused successfully it. The next day, a policeman was killed at the Tyrnyauz mining and processing plant when the guard post there was fired on at about 1:00 a.m. Seconds after police reinforcements arrived at the plant, the bridge over the Baksan River on the road leading to the plant was destroyed by a strong blast. The Tyrnyauz plant has been inactive for many years, but remains under guard to prevent property loss.
That was the fourth attack on the police, resulting in the second death, in the area in the past month. Local law enforcement agencies say the wave of criminal activity is due to the efforts of underground Wahhabi group hiding in the woods. They are trying to create pressure as the republic prepares to celebrate the 450th anniversary of its unification with Russia and the republic's supreme court prepares to hear the case of 59 rebels who took part in the attack on Nalchik on October 13, 2005. Thirty-five members of law enforcement and the military, 15 civilians and 95 rebels were killed in the violence. The bodies of the rebels killed were burned.
The state is claiming that the attack was an attempt to overthrow the constitutional order of Russia and violate its territorial integrity to create an Islamic state in the North Caucasus. The defense claims that the attack was a response to repression of Muslims. Police consider more terrorist acts in the republic possible.
www.kommersant.com
All the Article in Russian as of Aug. 20, 2007
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