Photograph by Bradmoscu
Russian police have arrested 15 heavily armed Islamists, allegedly belonging to an al-Qaeda-linked terrorist group and preparing for suicide strikes in Moscow.
Police made a dawn raid on the suspects allegedly from the 1960s Egypt-born fundamentalist group Takfir wal-Hijra and found them to be hiding suicide belts, weapons, and extremist literature.
Russia is on high alert in the run up to the upcoming Winter Olympics in February 2014, with the event a likely target for terror activity as those fighting for independence in the North Caucasus will attempt to bring the conflict to the attention of the world. One guerilla commander from the North Caucasus has already threatened action at the Black Sea resort of Sochi where the games are to be held.
