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Suspected suicide bombers detained in Russia

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2010-07-13 00:41

MOSCOW -- A group of suspected suicide bombers were detained in Russia's Dagestan Republic for allegedly plotting terrorist attacks, the national anti-terrorism center said on Monday.

Six women and two men were detained in the Dagestani capital of Makhachkala during an operation, the center was quoted as saying by the RIA Novosti news agency.

The six women, aged between 15 and 29, were allegedly trained for terrorist attacks. Four of them were the widows of former militant leaders, and the other two had previously been convicted of illegally storing weapons, the center said.

One of the two male detainees was believed to have delivered to Moscow the female suicide bombers who committed the Moscow metro terror attacks in March, the center added.

He was earlier allegedly in charge of providing accommodation and support for the female terrorists.

During the operation, law enforcement officers found two charged Makarov pistols, two belts which can be used for committing a terrorist attack by suicide explosion, a large number of items for changing appearances, religious literature about jihad, and notebooks with the plate numbers of law enforcement officials.

"Also, officers seized the farewell letters to the detainees' families, expressing their wish to end their life and advising their sisters to follow suit," said a statement released by the anti-terrorism center.