MOSCOW, May 4 (Itar-Tass) — Russian Interior Minister Rashid Nurgaliyev instructed to take all necessary additional measures to avert terrorist acts during the holidays in the country.
“Take additional organizational measures to avert sabotage and terrorist acts during the holidays,” he gave instructions to head of the main police department in the North Caucasus Federal District Sergei Chenchik, who arrived in Makhachkala after a double terrorist act.
Two blasts in Makhachkala claimed 11 people and wounded 87 people, Dagestani Interior Minister Magomed Magomedov told the Russian interior minister. Seven policemen, three emergency workers and a local resident were killed. Some 63 wounded people are undergoing treatment at the hospitals.
The power of the bombs has made about 50 kilograms and 100 kilograms of TNT, Magomedov said. Both bombs were staffed with striking pieces.
Meanwhile, the police do not have any information about the masterminds and perpetrators of this terrorist act. “We understand who committed and masterminded this crime and are searching for probable suicide bombers. There are some clues over people, who could commit the crime. There are some eyewitnesses, with whom we are working,” Magomedov told Nurgaliyev.
The Russian interior minister noted that if the professional medical aid is needed it is necessary to report about this immediately. “If the serious level of highly qualified doctors is needed, particularly for the recovery of wounded people, we are ready to send highly qualified surgeons to Dagestan immediately,” he said.
The minister also instructed to make requests for awarding policemen within ten days.
“It is necessary to make requests to commend the staff, which performed their official duty to the very end. I ask you to attend the funerals of our officers and convey condolences to the relatives of the terror victims on behalf of the top brass and me personally,” Nurgaliyev said, adding that a serious preventive work is needed to avert similar crimes.
“I am aware that for the last few months major efforts were taken, particularly for the neutralization of the gangs. But we should realize perfectly that they are beasts and they cannot get back to the peaceful life,” he noted.
The interior minister named preventive measures against terrorism as the priority of the ministry. “Such crimes are large-scale and are seeking to fan up chaos and panics,” he said, recalling that the security measures in the North Caucasus should meet the demands, which are made for this region.
For his part, head of the main police department in the North Caucasus Federal District Sergei Chenchik noted that the serious work is being done in the region to prepare for the May holidays.
“The serious work is being done, particularly by policemen from the road police post, where the explosions went off,” Chenchik reported to Nurgaliyev.
He noted that the chiefs of the territorial police departments were informed about the Dagestani tragedy. “The reports about the tragedy were immediately made for each minister and the chief of the department to minimize probable terrorist acts,” Chenchik pointed out.
He pledged that all necessary supplies are available in the region for the assistance to all people wounded in the explosions. “We had a meeting with medical workers and now all supplies are available to give the qualitative aid to all wounded people. As for the evacuation of injured people, the doctors said that it is not needed yet. Our four police officers, who are on the critical list, cannot be transported yet, and we will report if their evacuation for treatment in Moscow is needed,” he concluded.