Attack on church in Grozny reminded attack in Kizlyar

An attempt to capture a church in Chechnya, in which seven persons perished, was the second attack on Orthodox believers in Northern Caucasus since the start of the year. The responsibility for the previous attack in Kizlyar committed in February was claimed by the "Islamic State" (IS), a terrorist organization, banned in Russia by the court.

Today, in the centre of Grozny, the capital of Chechnya, at an attempt to capture believers in the Archangel Michael Church as hostages, four alleged militants were killed; two policemen and a parishioner perished.

The attack was condemned by Ismail Berdiev, the Chairman of the Muslims' Coordination Centre of Northern Caucasus.

"This was specially done in the holy month in order to destabilize the situation. Now, we have the sacred month of Ramadan; Muslims should not even swear, to day nothing of fighting," the TASS quotes Ismail Berdiev as saying.

Since the start of the year, the IS has twice claimed responsibility for attacking religious sites: the first attack was committed in February in Kizlyar; the second was the blowing up of the grave of Sheikh of Chirkei at night on May 9 in the Dagestani village of Chirkei. These events may indicate the militants' desire to sow inter-religious enmity in the region.