Chechnya Allies Attack Russia Embassy in Beirut; 2 Killed
Assailants protesting Russia’s crackdown on Chechnya fired rocket-propelled grenades Monday at the Russian Embassy here, killing a policeman. Troops killed one suspect.
No Russian casualties were reported at the embassy, but political attache Andrey Avdeev said the consular area was damaged.
The assailants launched four grenades and fired assault rifles at the embassy from a nearby building. Security forces stormed the building and killed one of the attackers, police said.
Troops sealed off neighboring buildings and streets and searched for at least two other assailants.
There was no claim of responsibility for the attack, but the Mazraa area is in the Muslim sector of Beirut, where extremists are sympathetic to fellow Muslims in Chechnya.
Police sources confirmed, on condition of anonymity, reports that the slain suspect was carrying a statement indicating the attack was motivated by anger over Russian military actions in Chechnya.
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