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Policeman killed when stopping suspicious car in Dagestan — Russian Interior Ministry

The event occurred at the checkpoint at the entry to the village of Sirtych of Dagestan’s Tabasaransky District

MOSCOW, March 30. /TASS/. A police officer was killed in Dagestan when he blocked entry to a village to a suspicious car, the Russian Interior Ministry reported Wednesday.

"The tragic event occurred today at the checkpoint at the entry to the village of Sirtych of Dagestan’s Tabasaransky District. Policemen blocked a suspicious car, after which an explosion resounded," the ministry said.

As a result, a 34-year-old local police inspector, Police Maj. Gasan Mutalibov was killed, another police officer was wounded and hospitalized.

Russia’s National Antiterrorism Committee (NAC) told TASS Wednesday that law enforcement officers on Wednesday preempted a terrorist act in the Russian North Caucasus Republic of Dagestan, as a result of which thugs got blown up on their own bomb.

"Today in the afternoon, officers of a mobile police group tried to stop a suspicious car, which was going in the direction of Derbent, in the village of Sirtych," the statement said.

"When the thugs realized that they can’t escape pursuit, they detonated a homemade explosive device, as a result of which a powerful explosion occurred," it said. "A police officer who took part in the pursuit of criminals was fatally wounded. No civilians were hurt."

An operative and investigative group and Federal Security Service (FSB) explosives experts were working at the site of the incident. The criminals were being identified and their possible involvement in other terrorism-related crimes was being established.

"Thanks to vigilance of police officers and timely actions by law enforcement bodies, the crimes planned by the thugs were prevented," the NAC said.

Criminal proceedings have been launched. An investigation is underway.

After the blowing up of a car with Russian Interior Ministry troops in Dagestan Tuesday, the NAC took measures aimed at searching for thugs and their accomplices.

Russia’s law enforcement agencies continue fighting militants in the North Caucasus over 15 years since the battle phase of the second war against Islamist separatists in Chechnya came to an end in 2000. Attacks on security officials and civilians occur from time to time in Dagestan, Ingushetia and Kabardino-Balkaria.