Seven people have been killed and 18 injured in a double suicide attack in the southern Russian republic of Chechnya.
According to the head of the republic, Ramzan Kadyrov, the blasts in the Chechen capital Grozny claimed the lives of five policemen, one Emergencies Ministry worker and one civilian.
The first explosion hit Grozny at about 9:45 p.m. local time on Tuesday, when a suicide bomber blew himself up while police were trying to detain him. The second followed about an hour later, after a crowd had gathered at the scene of the first blast.
Police are currently working at the scene of the attacks.
Ramzan Kadyrov expressed his utter indignation over the incident. He said that having committed the killing on Muslim holiday of Eid al-Fitr, the militants have shown their “true face.”
“Today is the most sacred day for the Muslims,” he was quoted as saying by the Interfax news agency. “The incident proves there is nothing sacred for militants. Religion or morals do not exist for them. This but again convinces us that this evil should be rooted out without mercy.”
Kadyrov also noted that Chechnya is preparing to celebrate Eid al-Fitr on Wednesday, though most Muslims in Russia held celebrations on Tuesday.