Press center in Chechnya burns after gun battle with conflicting number of unknown 'militants'
Reports out of Russia have confirmed that a gun battle erupted in Chechnya’s capital city of Grozny, killing unknown numbers of police and gunmen. Most of the details cannot be confirmed but what is clear is that the security response was significant and the battle left the city’s news media center in flames.
The conflicting reports have claimed that at least 5 police have been killed along with 7 or more attackers. Some initial reports claimed that the response killed the entire group of attackers, others noted multiple groups of attacking numerous targets including an army barracks.
PHOTO: Russian army barracks on fire in #Grozny via @ChechenCenter h/t @JF991 pic.twitter.com/jgr3czrhtf
— Conflict News (@rConflictNews) December 4, 2014
The airspace surrounding Moscow was rumored to be shut down also.
Moscow airspace apparently has been shut pic.twitter.com/bb6O9UaifG (via @RuslanLeviev )
— Gregor Peter (@L0gg0l) December 4, 2014
The attack comes after warnings from “ISIS” in recent weeks claiming the same region would be targeted. A LifeNews report echoes claims that multiple targets were planned.
globalvoicesonline.org
According to the Russian news service Lifenews.ru, the militants are suspected of hijacking three taxicabs southwest of Grozny and using the vehicles to infiltrate the city. They were en route to an unknown target, when traffic police stopped their convoy and discovered a massive arsenal of automatic guns, grenades, and other weapons. This was when violence reportedly broke out, leading to the deaths of several police officers.Claims that militants arrived in three taxicabs don’t square with other reports about the number of armed men now battling Grozny police. Russian website TJournal.ru spoke to an eye witness who speculates that as many as 50 armed militants are currently roaming Grozny’s streets. According to the witness, most people in Grozny speculate that the incursion is a failed effort to attack Grozny’s airport, where Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov’s private jet was expected to land around the time of the incident.
A video later surfaced which took credit for the attack.
On Twitter, Russian users allude to an audio message from the militants where they claim to have 300 men in Grozny. Bloggers also uploaded a low-resolution video featuring several men spouting Islamic rhetoric, taking credit for the events in Grozny, promising to die in the fight against Islam’s enemies. Within an hour, YouTube users added Russian subtitles to the two-minute video, which ties the attackers to Aslan Byutukayev, a Chechen insurgent commander and ally of the late Dokku Umarov, the former Caucasus Emirate leader.
An Associated Press report noted the video may have come from a known media group friendly to factions in the region.
Al Jazeera
The Kavkaz Center website, is believed to serve as a mouthpiece for Islamic groups operating in Russia’s North Caucasus, was linked to a video message by an individual claiming responsibility for the attacks unfolding Thursday morning, according to the Associated Press.
IMAGES: Reportedly pictures taken of militants on the way to attack #Grozny Press House. Described as “organized.” pic.twitter.com/ddZvVWHUuV
— Military Studies (@ArmedResearch) December 4, 2014
Live stream of #Grozny now shows armoured vehicles and troop trucks on the streets. #chechnya pic.twitter.com/JqR9m6UTwR
— Danish (@TheEasternStar) December 4, 2014
БТР-ы в Грозном pic.twitter.com/LBnvKS9VCe
— Мориарти (@UpaevMaga) December 3, 2014
Центр Грозного в данные секунды by @dondigidon95 pic.twitter.com/UOJJS1hXjl
— Magomed Edilsultanov (@batsuev) December 3, 2014
@KevinRothrock @KarenaAv @tjournalru Militants don’t even claim to have 50 in the city. They claim to have 30 inside. 200 outside.
— Military Studies (@ArmedResearch) December 4, 2014
RT @DefenceToday: Unconfirmed: Local news in #Grozny, #Chechnya reporting at least 300 militants attacking city
— Blogs of War (@BlogsofWar) December 4, 2014
Per preliminary reports the resistance fighters in #Grozny, #Chechnya carry out an operation & are in 400 strong. https://t.co/E1ou8rnfHU
— lennutrajektoor (@lennutrajektoor) December 4, 2014
Появилось аудиообращение боевиков. Неизвестный заявляет что их 300 человек. Грозный они называют “Джохаром” Ичкерийская линия. #Грозный
— Isaev (@TininVisa) December 4, 2014
“The info coming from Grozny residents is all over the place, ranging from “a war has started here” to “I haven’t heard a thing.”
От жителей Грозного поступает самая разная инфа: от “У нас началась война” до “Я ничего не слышал”.
— Beslan Uspanov (@beslanu) December 4, 2014
Такие дела. Грозный. pic.twitter.com/pPvlUuna2e
— ЄВРОМАЙДАН (@euromaidan) December 4, 2014
Сейчас в Грозном. pic.twitter.com/Oc8dh3tDOb
— Isaev (@TininVisa) December 3, 2014
Грозный.
Дом Печати. pic.twitter.com/5xrEnRp9Nf— ЄВРОМАЙДАН (@euromaidan) December 4, 2014
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