Russia says nine insurgents in the volatile Daghestan region who allegedly were planning acts of terrorism during public holidays in May have been killed by police.

Russia's Counterterrorism Committee said on its website on April 21 that it had received information that militants who planned to carry out an attack early next month were hiding in Derbent, the second-biggest city of the Muslim-majority republic of Daghestan in the south of the country.

The committee said officers found two separate groups of suspects in Derbent and ordered them to surrender. It says the suspects refused and died in subsequent gunfire on April 21.

Daghestan has seen a number of attacks in recent years, with several assaults against police claimed by the so-called Islamic State group.

Also on April 21, Russia's Federal Security Service said its officers killed a suspected Islamic State group supporter who allegedly planned terrorist acts in the neighboring Stavropol region.

Based on reporting by Reuters, AP and AFP</s>Russia said on Saturday it had killed nine militants who had been plotting a terrorist act in the volatile Dagestan region in the south of the country.

Russia's anti-terrorist committee said on its website it had received information that militants who planned to carry out an attack early next month were hiding in Derbent, the second biggest city of the Muslim-majority republic of Dagestan.</s>Russia said on Saturday it had killed nine militants who had been plotting a terrorist act in the volatile Dagestan region in the south of the country.

Russia’s anti-terrorist committee said on its website it had received information that militants who planned to carry out an attack early next month were hiding in Derbent, the second biggest city of the Muslim-majority republic of Dagestan.

Russian special forces detected two groups of militants in different parts of the city. The militants opened fire after being ordered to lay down their arms and were shot dead.

There were no casualties among civilians or special forces, it said.

Separately, Russia’s Federal Security Service said on its website it had killed an Islamic State militant in the neighbouring Stavropol region. The militant had planned an attack on the regional government buildings.</s>Nine gunmen plotting terror attack on May Day shot dead in Dagestan

Nine gunmen, who had been planning a terrorist attack during the May Day festivities, have been destroyed in the Russian North Caucasus region of Dagestan, the National Anti-Terrorism Committee (NAC) told TASS on Saturday.

"As a result of the targeted search, two gangs were spotted in different districts of Derbent. After having being offered to lay down arms and surrender, the criminals opened gunfire. In a brief exchange of fire, the gunmen were neutralized," NAC said.</s>MOSCOW: Nine people suspected of plotting an attack in Russia were killed in a shootout with security forces in Dagestan, the country's National Anti-Terror Committee has said.

The "anti-terrorist" operation was launched Saturday in Derbent, Dagestan, after police received a tip off over a group hiding in the city, who allegedly planned to commit an "attack" on May 1, traditionally a holiday in Russia, according to a statement from committee.

"Nine outlaw have been neutralised following brief exchanges of fire" with law enforcement, it said.

A Special Forces officer was wounded during the operation.

Dagestan, which lies immediately east of Chechnya, has seen a number of attacks in recent years, with several assaults against police claimed by the so-called Islamic State group.</s>MOSCOW — Russia’s National Anti-Terrorism Committee says nine insurgents in the Caucasus region who allegedly were planning acts of terrorism during public holidays in May have been killed by police.

The committee said officers in the city of Derbent found two separate groups of suspects and ordered them to surrender. It says the suspects refused and died in subsequent gunfire on Saturday.

Derbent is in Dagestan, a Caucasus region where police have clashed for years with fighters in an insurgency that spread from neighbouring Chechnya. Russian troops have fought two full-scale wars in Chechnya during the past quarter-century.

Also Saturday, the Federal Security Service said its officers killed a suspected Islamic State group supporter who allegedly planned terrorist acts in the Caucasus city of Stavropol.
Russian authorities say nine insurgents who were planning to launch an attack next month have been killed in a gunfight in Derbent, Dagestan.