Suspect of Grozny May 9 attack detained in Chechnya

A person suspected of involvement in the Grozny May 9 terrorist attack has been detained in Chechnya, reported the press service of the regional operative headquarters for the counter-terrorist operation in the North Caucasus.

According to its representative, the detainee was on the federal warrant list for such crimes as banditry, terrorism, attempt on a murder with aggravating circumstances and illegal turnover of weapons and ammunition by an organized group.

There is enough reason to suspect him of preparing the Grozny May 9 terrorist attack, the representative said.

On May 9th a bomb went off at the Grozny stadium during the Victory Day celebrations, killing seven people, including Chechen President Akhmad Kadyrov.

According to the press service of the Russian Interior Ministry's main department for the South federal district, in the Leninsky district of Grozny the police have detained Rinat Paskayev, a militant who had taken part in shooting at a Grozny cafe in September 2003, when two people were seriously wounded.

He had two hand grenades on him, the ministry reported.

The law-enforcement bodies have information that in 1999-2002 Paskayev learned radical Islam from Syrian mercenary Sheikh Saeed.