 Twelve extremists have been detained in Chechnya, the ITAR-Tass news agency reported Monday. An official said they had served as a back-up for the group that seized a school in southern Russia in September. The militants were detained in the Achkhoi-Martan district of Chechnya on Sunday night, ITAR-Tass said, citing Chechen Interior Minister Ruslan Alkhanov. Their leader was killed as they were being taken into custody, Mr. Alkhanov said. The group was also to have taken part in the seizure of hostages, ITAR-Tass quoted Alkhanov as saying. After the terrorists seized the Beslan school on Sept. 1, the group departed the city, he said. |