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Recent military actions in border regions of Chechnya, Dagestan, and Georgia ending
closeup region mark template 24a.JPG (294068 bytes)
(August 22, 1999)

 

August 20

Botlikhsky District: Over the past 24 hours federal forces led 37 bombing strikes against rebel strongholds in southwest Dagestan. This marks the heaviest air assault by federal forces in thirteen days of fighting. Russia’s Interior Ministry reported that two Kamaz lorries carrying terrorists were destroyed and two rebel munitions dumps discovered overnight; over 100 rebel gunmen were claimed to have been killed. Despite these advances, the Ministry noted that Islamic gunmen seized three new villages, Roti, Akur, and Chado, outside Botlikh. Russia TV reports that rebel gunmen are retreating and leaving their dead behind, either unattended or laid in mass graves.

Dagestan, municipal districts: Special police forces are patrolling streets in Dagestan’s major urban centers on alert for terrorist attacks, sabotage, and hostage-taking by Islamic forces. In Makhachkala, Kaspiysk, Khasavyurt and Buynaksk, self defense forces are guarding hospitals, schools, industrial enterprises, and administrative buildings.

Grozny: More than 200 Chechen reservists have been deployed to the Kizlyar section of the Dagestani border to secure the Mozdok-Kizlyar route into Chechnya. Borozdinovskaya, a village two kilometers from the border, has seen constant shelling by Islamists trying to open this northern route. Borozdinovskaya is now reportedly secure and manned by police as part of a state of emergency called by Chechen President Aslan Maskhadov last Sunday. The border defense for Kizlyar is under the command of former Chechen interior minister Brigadier General Aslanbek Arsayev, who assures, "the border will be reinforced at all possible intrusion sites." Russia’s Defence Ministry reports Shamil Basayev is actively trying to recruit jobless youths in Chechnya to support his waning campaign in Dagestan.

Stavropol: Border officials from Chechnya and Russia’s Stavropol Territory have agreed to a cooperative arrangement for establishing buffer zones over a five kilometer administrative boundary. The agreement, signed today in the Cossack village of Galyugayevskaya near Stavropol, will enable combined Russian and Chechen forces to curb weapons smuggling and terrorist movements across the border.

Vladikavkaz: Police units from North Ossetia and mobile units of Internal Troops from Russia’s Interior Ministry regrouped along the 284 kilometer stretch of North Ossetia’s administrative border with Chechnya and Ingushetia. Checkpoints and border posts were reinforced between Chechnya and Ingushetia in response to reports from Russia’s FSB (Secret Service) that Islamic militants had tried to recruit from North Ossetia’s Prigorodnyy District. Officials in North Ossetia have worked closely with Russian Interior Ministry troops, units of the 58th Army of the North Caucasus Military District, and units on the Vladikavakaz border to prevent rebels from stirring ethnic unrest in the region. All transport communications on the border will be monitored indefinitely and all transport vehicles travelling to Russia on the Kavkaz federal road from the North Caucasus will be stopped and checked.

 

August 19


Tando: Bomb raids continued over villages to the north of Botlikh today, helping ground troops seize two of the rebel bases outside of Tando, routing 70 guerrillas, according to Russia’s Defense Ministry. Russian Deputy Interior Minister Igor Zubov said today that a large-scale offensive against rebels held up at Tando would begin next week, after Russian and Dagestani troops regrouped. The combined death toll of Russian and Dagestani forces is now 40 dead and 160 injured after twelve days of fighting. Basayev’s press office declares these figures to be excessively low.

Grozny: Shamil Bashayev has put his troops on alert to begin phase two of his campaign in Dagestan, code-named Imam Gamzat Bek. Russian forces are preparing for a series of attacks to take place at Kizlyar and Khasavyurt, two major cities located in central Dagestan, approximately sixty miles north northwest of the Botlikhsky District.

Agvali: Two Dagestani police personnel were wounded by sniper fire this morning in the Tsumadinsky District, according to Interfax.

Andi: Dagestan’s Interior Ministry reports that another rebel force of up to 2,000 men has approached a village near the Kharami Pass.

Moscow: Losses suffered by Russian paratroopers on Wednesday have been attributed to miscalculations of rebel locations in Tando, according to Kommersant Daily. Federal forces have strafed the hamlet north of Botlikh, destroying all 50 homes, in order to seize the strategic height from Islamic militants. Rebels opened fire on a paratrooper unit as they were landing, killing eight according to early reports by the Ministry of Defense. Rebels continue their claim of 60 Russian casualties, in addition to destroying three tanks, three armored vehicles, and four armored personnel carriers. Izvestia reports that officials from Russia’s general staff "are quietly admitting that it will take six months to wipe out the Wahhabi groups at the Chechen-Dagestani border."

 

August 18


Botlikhsky District: Federal forces have flown 50 sorties over the past 24 hours to gather intelligence, deliver airstrikes and drop land mines in regions held by rebel forces. Ground campaigns were renewed against rebels in the Botlikhsky district today, though Russian forces suffered their heaviest losses in twelve days of combat during the latest offensive at Tando. Dagestan’s Interior Ministry reported eight Russian casualties and 20 wounded, while Basayev’s information agency declared that 60 Russian troops had been killed overnight. Chief of the General Staff Gen. Anatoliy Kvashnin declared today that, "stabilizing the situation in Dagestan is a drawn-out process and would require several months." Despite their losses, combined Dagestani and Russian forces secured the Kharami mountain pass today, cutting off yet another rebel supply route from Chechnya.

Makhachkala: Russian Defense Minister Igor Sergeyev concluded his one-day mission to Dagestan today after meeting with Defense Ministry officials who are managing anti-terrorist operations on the border. North Caucasus Military District Commander Viktor Kazantsev has been appointed head of the army group deployed in Dagestan, ending the theater command of Russia’s Interior Ministry. Commenting on the change of command, Chief of the General Staff Gen. Anatoliy Kvashnin said, "changes in the Dagestani situation, which involves combat actions, call for putting a person in charge of the group who would have more forces and means at his disposal."

Buinaksky District: Television and radio relay stations broadcasting Islamic extremist programming were bombed today outside the villages of Karamakhi and Chabaniakhi. Speaking on Tuesday, head of the State Council of the Republic of Dagestan Magomedali Magomedov indicated a hard-line stance against local sympathizers to Basayev’s jihad. Referring to the broadcast of open propaganda materials, Magomedov said, "We are actually in a state of war, and we shall pursue a very tough policy with regard to those who do not wish to abide by the laws of the Russian Federation and Dagestan, those who are in the way."

Moscow: First Deputy Minister Mikhail Seslavinsky indicated that Russia has also begun its own information blockade, confirming to Ekho Moskvy radio on August 18 that the Ministry for the Press, TV and Radio Broadcasting and Mass Communications have sanctioned the broadcast of interviews with rebel leaders. Russian Public TV received a more strict version of the statement than was issued to All-Russia State Television and Radio Broadcasting Company, Russia TV, NTV, and TV6.

Makhachkala: Kavkaz-Tsentr broadcast today that the joint command of Dagestani mojahedin appointed Sirazhdin Ramazanov to the post of Rais al-Vazara (prime minister) of the Islamic State of Dagestan. Ramazanov is thus charged with forming a Hukumat (government) that will be completed within the next two to three weeks. Ramazanov’s first act as Rais al-Vazara was the appointment of Magomed Tagayev to the post of Information and Press Minister. Tagayev, a native of Ansalta, has been directing the press center for the Dagestani mujahedeen.

 

August 17


Makhachkala: First Deputy Defense Minister Vladimir Kolesnikov reports, "We control the situation in the villages, where the guerrillas are still staying. There are not many of them left, and they will be driven out within a few days." Kolesnikov mentioned also that upon returning from combat zones on Monday, he found 147 guerrillas had been killed in the Botlikhsky District between Friday and Saturday. Chechen hospitals are filling with wounded guerrillas aged between 16-35 and rebel morale is reportedly low. Kolesnikov noted that fighting was even more active on Sunday and Monday, though Monday night was mostly inactive.

Botlikhsky District: Air assault troops have arrived in the combat zone from Ulyanovsk, thirty-second Brigade, and will join with other forces as they regroup to prepare for a final offensive. At present, a combined force of 13,000 Russian commandos, Dagestani police, and local volunteers have encircled the rebels and await orders to seize their position. Rebels held up at Tando to the north of Botlikh are calling urgently for reinforcements, though they are isolated by Russian forces. The State Duma Committee on Defense announced today that federal forces will not maneuver in order to purge the Islamists from Dagestan, but "destroy" them. Head of the General Staff of the Russian armed forces General Anatoliy Kvashnin stated furiously "They must be destroyed, and that is all, so that bandits no longer destroy civilians."

Moscow: President Boris Yeltsin doubted if the establishment of a state coordinating body would be necessary for the North Caucasus, though he said it would be considered. Yeltsin was positive about the progress of Russian forces in the region and emphasized the financial needs of the people, saying "One should show respect to the Dagestani people and support it," adding, "we support at the hardest moments." During a meeting with Prime Minister Putin, Yeltsin was pressed on whether Russia would leave the North Caucasus to Islamic rebels and replied, "It will never happen. We will not allow it." Putin affirmed that no time limit will be imposed on federal forces conducting operations in Chechnya and Dagestan.

 

August 16


Botlikhsky District: Russian forces seized the village of Shodroda after a twelve-hour battle outside of Botlikh. Fighting for this strategic position has resulted in four Russian paratroopers killed and wounded 20 since Friday. No Russian casualties were reportedly taken in today’s offensive at Shodroda. Rebel lines of retreat from Shodroda and nearby Ansalta, Rakhata, Rikvani, and Tando have been mined. Relying on Su-24s and Su-25s for reconnaissance and mine-planting, federal forces flew over 50 sorties overnight, leveling most of the 50 homes in Tando. Approximately 600 hundred paratroopers and special police arrived from Stavropol earlier in the day, while a battalion of Airborne troops arrived to the district from Buynaksk. Russia’s Interior Ministry reports that rebels now hold only four of the 32 villages in the region.

Grozny: Chechen President Aslan Maskhadov received an audience of 5,000 for an anti-war rally today, where he continued to downplay Chechnya’s role in Dagestan and accused Russia of "trying to trigger a civil war in Chechnya." Maskhadov’s language was uncharacteristically confrontational today, saying that "fighting crime and abductions and rebuilding the economy is the chief jihad," adding that "we do not need Dagestan or other parts of Russia, but we will not tolerate attacks on Chechnya." This rally comes on the heels of yesterday’s announcement that Chechnya would today begin a full state of emergency that will last until September 16.

Makhachkala: Dagestan’s Interior Ministry cites the losses of Basayev’s force as severe. In the past ten days of fighting, five mortars, 14 civilian lorries, three tanks and seven anti-aircraft guns were destroyed and 600 rebels killed. Five gunmen are now in Russian custody. Despite his defeat, Basayev proclaimed today that "the longest and most difficult" campaign will begin "within 60 hours." Details of the operation, code named Imam Gamzat Bek, were not given. Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin was later today targeted for assassination by the Islamic Peacekeeping Army’s sharia court in Dagestan.

 

August 15


Grozny: President Aslan Maskhadov declared a state of emergency that will continue through September 16, pending "future developments" in Dagestan. The conditions for the state of emergency include a 10:00 PM-6:00 AM (Moscow time) curfew, a ban on all unsanctioned rallies and protests, and suspension of all press accreditations and radio-broadcast licenses. Chechnya’s official envoy to Moscow, Mairbek Vachagayev, emphasized the police actions were not the result of fighting in Dagestan, but of recent comments made in Moscow that dismissed the independent status of Chechnya. Consideration for a state of emergency in the Russian Federation is made only by appeal to the Russian Federation Council, which Maskhadov has not done. Chechnya’s alert will instead be enforced by a "special regime" on the administrative border, according to Vachagayev, beginning at midnight tonight.

Botlikhsky District: Rebel strongholds at Ansalta, Rakhata, and Shodroda were pounded by Russian combat helicopters and Su-25 warplanes, allowing paratroopers to capture the Miarsinsky Heights command feature south of the villages.

Novalaksky District: A patrol group of police from a western district in Dagestan was fired upon early Sunday morning by bandits armed with submachine guns and grenade launchers. Bandits and police fought between the villages of Galaiti, Duchi, and Gamiakh for 30 minutes before the rebels retreated to Chechnya. No casualties were reported. This skirmish, along with firefights reported from Outposts 1 and 2 in the Kizlyar district, indicate the northernmost movements of the rebel forces, which are disproportionately lodged in the south near Botlikh and surrounding villages.

Rikvany: Dagestani police and volunteers under the command of Police Col. Umakhan Umakhanov thwarted a rebel push from Benoi, Chechnya to join forces at Botlikh. As many as 21 rebel gunmen were killed, while three of the Dagestani troops perished and six were wounded.

Grozny: Basayev’s information agency reported the death of 19 rebels overnight near the villages of Gagatly and Rikvany in western Dagestan, noting also that an additional 35 rebels were killed since Friday night.

 

August 14


Gagatly, Rikvany: Moslem fighters led by Shirvani Basayev, brother of field commander Shamil Basayev, were routed by Dagestani volunteers and policemen who, having run out of ammunition, buried the rebels under an avalanche. Eyewitnesses reported that 60 fighters were buried under the debris after an overhanging cliff exploded. Shirvani Basayev’s condition is unknown at this time.

Kenkhi: Russia’s Interior Ministry confirmed that Russian forces were routing rebels from positions inside the Chechen border, cutting off a part of Basayev’s reserve contingent, hiding three miles from the Dagestan border on the Chechnya side. Kenkhi was one of 19 bomb raids occurring from Friday night to Saturday morning.

 

August 13


Grozny: Acting Prime Minister Vladimir Putin declared that rebel bases in Chechnya have become combat targets for ground and air assaults. Putin affirmed, "Chechnya is a Russian territory. We will deliver strikes against any place where gunmen are based." A column of Russian troops and armored personnel carriers fired on Chechen border guards on Friday morning after crossing the border near the village of Ishcherskaya from the Russian region of Stavropol. Khumid Dalayev, a Chechen border guard cited by Interfax, said the incident amounted to an hour-long "provocation" to incite the guards to return fire. Russia’s Defense Ministry has denied this incident, as well as reports from Grozny that Russian jets and helicopters attacked three Chechen villages on Thursday.

Moscow: Russian Defense Minister Igor Sergeyev has fulfilled instructions from acting Prime Minister Vladimir Putin to increase the pay of the soldiers deployed at Dagestan. Monthly pay to Russian troops and Dagestani police forces retained by contract will be increased by anywhere between 70 and 170 percent. On August 12, Putin said, "If we pay them properly, I think they will cope with the assigned task quicker." Russian peacekeepers serving in Kosovo are paid US$1,000 per month, a sum that will now be more proximate to the conscripts in Dagestan who were earlier paid very little. Basayev’s forces are rumored to earn US$100 per day of combat, while the wounded are paid US$300.

Tsumadinsky District: Russia’s Interior Ministry reports that search and destroy missions have ended in Khvani, Echeda, and Tsumadin, making the district clear of Islamic forces. Steps will be taken to secure area villages from intrusion by reserve forces. Commander of Interior Ministry troops Vyacheslav Ovchinnikov said the cleanup of Tsumadinsky marked the end of Phase One. Phase Two, the clearing of Botlikhsky District, will begin on August 17. Dagestani police came across a substantial rebel arsenal during mop-up operations near Khvani on Thursday night. ITAR-TASS reports that the depot included two grenade launchers, a mortar, large-bore submachine guns, 90 mines, 20,000 bullets, 200 mines for underbarrel grenade-launchers, and 200 mines for anti-tank grenade launchers.

Ansalta: Russian paratroopers seized a command terrain outside of Ansalta Thursday night that gives Russia a strategic advantage in wresting control of nearby Botlikh from rebel forces. Commander of the North Caucuses military district Viktor Kazantsev sees this advance as the start of a full ground assault. Kazantsev noted also that militants had for the first time failed to retrieve the bodies of their dead.

Moscow: Russian Deputy Interior Minister Igor Zubov told reporters of Russia’s appeal to Chechen President Aslan Maskhadov to assist federal forces in the "anti-terrorist" campaign against the rebels. Maskhadov maintains that the warring in Dagestan is an internal matter that must be handled solely by Russia.

Botlikhsky district: Federal forces have elected to use Su-24 bombers to ferret Islamic forces from their positions in the ravines of western Dagestan. Anatoly Kornukov, chief of Russia’s Air Defense, said that these "special bombs of great killing power, [are] capable of reaching militants in canyons, caves and other hardly accessible places." Russia’s Interior Ministry has used its air power conservatively because of the presence of Dagestani civilians in the region. Cruise missiles will not be used in the region, which Kornukov said will be secure in three days.

 

August 12


Lake Kezenoy-am: The northern supply route of Chechen forces has been blocked by federal border troops. Mountain paths south of Kezenoy-am through Snegovoy Pass remain open, allowing for continuous supply of arms to rebel positions in northern Dagestan. The Islamic Peacekeeping Army is channeling light munitions through the region’s gorges and ravines on horseback.

Godoberi: Islamic rebels engaged the first detachment of Dagestan’s volunteer forces that left Makhachkala by bus on Wednesday. This first unit is 300 strong and will receive support from the regular army, additional volunteers en route to the region, and 1,000 servicemen arriving soon from Stavropol. There is no report yet on the operational success of the mostly untrained volunteers facing Basayev’s guerrilla forces.

Stavropol: Reinforcements from Russia’s Interior Ministry are en route to Dagestan from the Northern Caucuses and Murmansk, Russia. Russia’s commando-elite comprise the majority of newly deployed units to border regions of Chechnya and Dagestan, including 600 paratroopers, 50 members of OMAN, and a brigade from Russia’s GRU (secret service). A battalion of 500 men from OMAN forces based in the Urals has also departed for the Northern Caucuses.

Ansalta: Shamil Bashayev establishes Islamic Peacekeeping Army headquarters at Ansalta. Islamic forces are holding their positions at Botlikhskiy and Tsumadinsky districts but have suffered heavy casualties. Over 200 aviation sorties have been flown in northern Dagestan in the past five days, allegedly inflicting 150 rebel fatalities and wounding 300 more.

Moscow: Deputy Interior Minister Igor Zubov announces that both sides have taken losses in Dagestan, noting that some rebels have withdrawn to Chechnya. Zubov cited the rebel forces at 700 active personnel and 500 reserve, while hundreds of Dagestani volunteers assist Russian detachments. Armored personnel carriers are patrolling Moscow and police forces are on alert for any terrorist actions.

Stavropol: Russian airforce commander in chief, Colonel General Anatoly Kornukov, stated that a “plan drawn up by the ministers of Defense and the Interior is being implemented in Dagestan. In accordance with the plan, a special weapon—highly effective and with great killing power—is being used.”

Gubden: Rebels are forced out of village by locals in Karabudakhentsky district in Dagestan after seizing a Moslem teaching center for training purposes.

August 11


Botlikh, Tsumadinsky district: Russians escalate air campaigns on Tondo and surrounding villages in attempt to dislodge rebel forces. Two hundred Russian forces surrounded the district in order to secure villages held by the “Islamic Peacekeeping Army.” Operations continued through the night in Botlikh and Tsumadinsky districts.

Stavropol: Russian border police shut down all of the 60 checkpoints at midnight along the border of Dagestan and Chechnya. All crossing vehicles will be thoroughly searched. OMAN and SOBR units from Russia’s Federal Anti-Terrorism Commission arrive in the Kurskiy district of Russian, northwest from Chechnya.

Grozny: Basayev declares that rebel forces surrounded Russia’s 136th Army Brigade near Buinaksk. Islamists allege that seven Russian helicopters and one plane have been shot down or grounded.  The Islamic Shura of Dagestan declare Shamil Basayev as military amir of the combined forces of Dagestan’s mujahedin. Basayev appoints Wahhabi militant Khattab as chief commander.

Botlikh: Khattab is reportedly wounded and his interpreter killed while carrying out operations in north Dagestan.

Makhachkala: Dagestan’s Interior Ministry reports the combined casualties for Dagestani police and Russian forces were 10 dead and 27 wounded. The Ministry reported rebel casualties to be 44 dead and 80 wounded as of Tuesday.  Mayor Said Amirov organizes volunteer forces and deploys the first 300 to Botlikh. This “international brigade” is comprised of refugees and civilians who will be trained in the field by former servicemen having combat experience in Afghanistan and the former Soviet Union.  Dagestan’s Interior Ministry confirms the loss of two Russian helicopter gunships by rebel mortar attacks.

August 10


Echeda, Khvani: Russian forces and Dagestani police secure two villages on Dagestan’s western border, repelling rebel troops.
Makhachkala: Russian forces destroy two rebel tanks and one anti-aircraft gun in the late evening.
Grozny: Chechen President Aslan Maskhadov refers to the conflict as a “dirty big game,” alleging that “A Mongol Tartar invasion is being simulated to deceive the Russian and world community and distract attention from the deep processes underway in Dagestan."

August 9

Zemo Omalo: A Russian Su-24 fighter enters Georgian airspace at 0945 GMT. Cluster bombs with possible carriage of anti-personnel mines are dropped on a village 60 km outside the Dagestan border, wounding three.
Godoberi: One Russian helicopter is allegedly shot down, falling into the Andiyskoye Koysu.
Botlikh: Four Russian helicopters are reportedly immobilized by mortar fire on airstrip in northern Dagestan. Russian helicopter opens fire on Dagetani police convoy killing four and wounding seven.

August 7


Botlikh, Tsumadinsky: Approximately 1,200 guerrillas cross into Dagestan and establish strongholds in the northwestern region of Dagestan. These forces comprise mercenaries from Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, and Pakistan, though the majority are guerrillas loyal to Chechen warlords Shamil Basayev, Salman Raduyev, and Jordanian Wahabbi leader Khattab. At least nine villages are overtaken with little resistance and occupied by Saturday.


July 27


Stepashin states that there will not be another war in Chechnya.


July 24


Chechnya’s envoy to Russia, Mairbek Vachagayev, says that Chechnya is willing
to form part of Russian federation but will not give up independence.


July 23


Chechen attackers open fire with mortars and submachine guns at a Russian
post in the town of Kizlyar wounding three soldiers.


July 17   
Atgeriyev is freed and returns to Chechnya.


July 16
Chechen Security Minister Turpal-Ali Atgeriyev is detained in Moscow by Interior
Ministry police for his alleged role in a 1996 attack and charged with banditry,
hostage-taking, and terrorism. Atgeriyev was in Moscow as a representative of
Chechen President Aslan Maskhadov, and was tohave met with Russian officials
to plan a Yeltsin-Maskhadov meeting.


July 15
Rushailo holds a closed meeting of the Interior Ministry to discuss the situation in
Chechnya.


July 3
Rushailo addresses the Federation Council and warns that Russia will make
preemptive strikes against Chechen rebels. Stepashin says that Chechnya “will
not be allowed to split away from Russia.” Rushailo is promoted to the rank of
Colonel General.


June 30
Alexander Lebed negotiates the release of seven hostages held in captivity in
Chechnya.


June 29
Stepashin states that the stabilizing of the situation in the Caucasus and prevent
it from worsening is the top priority of the government.


June 28
Stepashin chairs a conference of the Dagestani law-enforcement bodies in
Makhachkala to discuss the situation in the North Caucasian republic.


June 24
Speaker of the Russian State Duma Gennady Seleznyov and Chechen speaker
Ruslan Alikhadzhiyev hold an informal meeting to discuss the problems in the
Caucasus.


June 22   
Stepashin holds a meeting to discuss the situation in the North Caucasus. Rushailo states that all Chechen paramilitary bases will be destroyed.


June 17    
Overnight fighting between Chechen and Russian forces results in the deaths of 7 Russian Interior Ministry troops and the wounding of 15 others.


June 11
Russian Prime Minster Sergei Stepashin and Interior Minister Vladimir Rushailo
meet with Chechen President Aslan Maskhadov to talk about economic and law-
enforcement arrangements between the two countries.


June 1
Thirty Chechen gunmen attack a military post killing one Russian officer and
wounding three others.


May 29   
Chechen Deputy Prime Minister Akmed Zakayev says that Russian air strikes were in violation of a bilateral treaty. Chechen Security Minister Turpal Atgeriyev denies that Chechens were responsible for the attack on the Russian border post.


May 28
Seventy armed Chechen militants attack a Russian checkpoint in Dagestan
around 2 am resulting in the death of 1 Russian officer and 9 Chechens. Russian
Mi-24 helicopters fire on a Chechen guerilla camp.


May 27    

Russian Forces free two Orthodox priests and five soldiers from Chechnya during an overnight mission. Interior Minister Vladimir Rushailo claims that between 500 and 800 people are still being held in Chechnya. Sixty Chechen rebels, while hunting for weapons, attack a police station killing one and injuring 13
.   

 

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