MOSCOW, December 24. /ITAR-TASS/. Twelve acts of terrorism have been prevented and 42 gunmen leaders, including masterminders of the terrorist attack in Volgograd, have been neutralized in the North Caucasus region this year, reported the joint meeting of the National Antiterrorism Committee and the Federal Operational Headquarters headed by NAC chief and Federal Security Service Director Alexander Bortnikov on Tuesday.
In the course of the work to prevent terrorist activities, 70 counterterrorist and other operative and combat operations were conducted in the North Caucasian Federal District. Seventy eight terrorist crimes were prevented, including twelve terrorist attacks, and more than 260 gunmen were neutralized, including 42 leaders. Among them were organizers of the terrorist attack in Volgograd. More than 320 homemade explosive devices and a lot of firearms were seized, a NAC source noted.
Besides, the work continued to convince members of groups of gunmen and persons influenced by them to abandon terrorist and extremist activities. Seventy two people have been returned to peaceful life this year.