Terrorists timed Makhachkala terror attack to coincide with V-Day

Terrorists had planned to perpetrate a terror act in Makhachkala, capital of North Caucasus Republic of Daghestan neighbouring Chechnya, on May 9, timing it to coincide with Victory Day. Vladimir Muratov, in charge of the Federal Security Service's Daghestan department, said as addressing a meeting of the republican State Council Monday. However, the city's law-enforcers had taken harsh security measures and criminals had to abandon the plan, according to Mr Muratov. Yet the horrible crime was committed in Kaspiisk instead. The criminals had aimed to destabilize the situation ahead of summer elections to Daghestan's State Council, which is one of the avenues of inquiry, said Mr Muratov. Republican leader Magomedali Magomedov, on his part, said poorer law-enforcement performance and insufficient public vigilance had been the causes of the tragedy. The Daghestani Interior Ministry and FSB department, Mr Magomedov emphasized, must analyse and give an appraisal of performance of their Kaspiisk branches. The "enemies will be found and punished without fail," assured the republican leader.