Interior minister says 17 bandits seized in Nalchik

MOSCOW, Oct.14. Russian Interior Minister Rashid Nurgaliyev said on Friday 17 bandits, who attacked the city of Nalchik in Kabardino-Balkaria on Thursday, have been seized and are being interrogated.

“Thanks to professional and proper actions of special task forces 17 bandits were seized alive and investigators are currently working with them,” Nurgaliyev said at an urgent meeting with his subordinates.

“The detained are giving evidence that will help investigate the events in Kabardino-Balkaria,” said the minister who had to cut short his visit to Luxembourg because of the attack.

Nurgaliyev confirmed 61 militants were killed in clashes.

He called on his subordinates to “take all measures for an early identification of the killed, and to expose their criminal connections and links to terrorists.”

Deputy Interior Ministers Aklexander Chekalin and Mikhail Sukhodolsky, Interior Troops Commander Nikolai Rogozhkin, as well as Interior ministry department heads attended the meeting that lasted for three hours, Itar-Tass reported. V.A.