By William Tucker
Chief Correspondent for In Homeland Security
Russian police have launched a targeted counterterrorism operation in response to several murders and the detonation of an improvised explosive device in the Stavropol Territory. Media accounts report that a vehicle containing a dead body detonated when officers began to approach the car. The explosion was reported to be small and only slightly injured one officer. Other murders have taken place, but thus far Russian authorities have been rather quiet about the case though they have confirmed that a new counterterrorism operation has taken place. Russia has also confirmed finding four additional victims, each in a separate vehicle, with two that were rigged to explode. The most recent reporting out of Russia suggests that authorities have identified at least three suspects belonging to KBK Vilayat, but they have not yet been apprehended. As if this wasn’t a big enough headache for Russia in the last month before the Olympic games are slated to begin, counterterrorism officials have apprehended a female suicide bomber who was traveling from Karachayevo-Cherkessia to Stavropol. This is the same region that the other three named suspects hail from. Unfortuantely, stories like this will continue as the games get closer. Islamist militants in Russia are capable actors, but they may not be able to gain access to the games. Instead, they will cause as much havoc as they can wherever the opportunity is presented.
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