AMU Homeland Security

Russia: Caucasus Militant’s Plot to Attack Chemical Arms Facility Disrupted

By William Tucker
Chief Correspondent for In Homeland Security

Russian security officials are claiming that they successfully disrupted a plot by militants from the North Caucasus to attack the Maradykovsky chemical weapons storage and disposal facility in the Kirov oblast. Kirov sits on the banks of the Vyatka River, and is located some 600 miles north-east of Moscow. Though Russian authorities have released few details of the alleged plot, they did say that bomb making components were recovered from an abandoned home where the suspects were living. Along with the weaponry was “extremist literature” which the Russians claim discusses radical Wahhabism. Authorities have claimed that the goal was to bomb the Maradykovsky plant as an “act of terrorism” which would have killed “hundreds.” It is possible that this is an ongoing investigation and Russian security is erring on the side of caution in releasing information to the public, but remember, this is Russia and freedom of the press is not guaranteed. Additionally, factual information from the government isn’t typically forthcoming. When dealing with Caucasus militancy we’re often stuck with unreliable information from the Russian government on the one hand, and actual, capable militancy on the other. In other words, Russia may exaggerate information, but this doesn’t diminish the very real threat from Caucasus militancy, or more specifically, the Caucasus Emirate.

Both the AP and Reuters have reported on this incident, but it was something in the Reuters report that was rather interesting. The Reuters article stated, “Militants have previously carried out deadly bombings in Moscow and other parts of Russia outside the mostly Muslim North Caucasus, but specific allegations of plots to attack sites holding weapons of mass destruction in nuclear-armed Russia are almost unheard of.” Actually, this isn’t so. Moscow has exposed past attempts by militants to attack nuclear, or other military facilities. The difference may be, however, that this recent alleged plot, as described by the Russian government, sought to bomb a facility, whereas past attacks were reportedly attempts to infiltrate nuclear or chemical sites with the intention of exfiltrating weapons or material. In fact, Russia has had several cases where Caucasus militants were actually found to be in possession of nuclear or chemical materials. In one such instance, Russian police discovered a large stash of chemical agents on May 7, 2005. When famed Chechen militant Alash Daudov was killed ten days later, police found a map of Grozny with targets marked for a chemical attack. In this particular plot, al-Qaeda’s main leadership may have been involved or at least informed of the plot through contact with Jordanian jihadist Abu Mudzhaid (Mujahid). Other chemical plots linked to the Caucasus and al-Qaeda include a plot to attack the Russian Embassy in Paris and another plan to attack U.S. and Russian Embassies in Turkey with some form of chemical weaponry.

The interesting aspect to any alleged terrorism plots involving nuclear, biological, or chemical weaponry is that the psychological effect often outweighs the physical impact of the attack. This means that a terror attack doesn’t necessarily need to be successful to have an impact. This would follow Doku Umarov’s, the Caucasus Emirate Emir, 2009 proclamation that the group would transition to economic attacks. He would go on to reiterate this order following the 2011 Domodedovo airport attack in Moscow. Emirate claimed attacks of Russia’s energy sector and infrastructure underly this strategy. Viewed in this context, the recent plot would make sense. Had this been successful it would have demonstrated the continued vulnerability of sensitive Russian sites. It is again worth mentioning that Russia does have its hands full in dealing with Islamic militancy despite its often questionable claims, and the eventual return of Emirate militants fighting in Syria will also complicate matters. Though this plot was disrupted, the fact that these militants had traveled so far and moved weapons into place with such ease suggests that Moscow was fortunate in this disruption. Doubly so considering the alleged plot. From the Emirates perspective, this is a small set back, but the group can spin this in its favor. Despite Moscow’s best efforts over the past two decades, militancy in the Caucasus is as capable as ever, and with the Sochi Olympics on the horizon, Russia has plenty to worry about.

William Tucker serves as a senior security representative to a major government contractor where he acts as the Counterintelligence Officer, advises on counterterrorism issues, and prepares personnel for overseas travel. His additional duties include advising his superiors in matters concerning emergency management and business continuity planning.

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