MOSCOW, August 7 (Itar-Tass) — The militants who were destroyed in suburban Nalchik had a bomb with a yield up to 15 kilograms of TNT, the information center of the National Antiterrorist Committee /NAK/ told Itar-Tass on Tuesday.
Earlier reports said the special operation began on Monday night, after police had received the information about the militants' possible routes of movement.
Police and Federal Security Service agents set an ambush in a wooded area near the village of Khasania. They attempted to check several suspicious persons at around 22:00, Moscow time, on Monday. The suspects opened automatic fire at law-enforcement agents. The police returned fire and sealed the area.
"The inspection of the scene of clash began after demolition exports had probed it for explosives. Two bodies were found," an Investigative Committee /SK/ official said.
The exact number of gunmen is unknown. Law-enforcers believe two militants have escaped. The police have not suffered any casualties. The destroyed gunmen were identified as Khusei Guziyev, b.1984 and Yuri Akhkobekov, b.1983, the NAK said. Police also found at the scene two assault rifles with four clips, a pistol with a silencer and two grenades.
Criminal proceedings were opened over attempted murder of law-enforcement personnel and illegal turnover of weapons.