Five militants were eliminated yesterday in the Shali district of Chechnya, the Northern Caucasus Counter-Terrorist Regional Operations HQ has told MVDinform.ru.

A clash between commandos and terrorists broke out six kilometres southeast of the village of Serzhen-Yurt.

Federals ambushed the gang, which comprised about 10 people, at about 4 a.m. The terrorists resisted arrest firing their guns at the commandos, the source noted. Five thugs were killed in the shooting.  

In the heat of the battle it became clear that some of the gang were foreigners: their radio conversations were in Turkish. Searching the killed militants, the commandos discovered identity papers in the name of Umach Khasan – a 24-year-old national of Turkey.

A Turkish passport and maps of the Chechen Republic and of the city of Grozny were found on him as well, the HQ noted.  

The operation was based on the information provided by Kamal Rabat Bourahla, an Algerian mercenary already in custody. He disclosed whereabouts of several gangs, including those using foreign hirelings.  

Kamal Bourahla also revealed information about the gangs he had joined to carry out acts of terrorism, attacks on civilians, local officials and the military. The FSB is leading the investigation into the crimes he perpetrated in Chechnya, Dagestan and Ingushetia.

MVDinform.ru