Suicide Bomber Kills Six

A suicide bomber killed six people as well as himself outside a concert hall in Grozny, Chechnya, Russia, July 26.

International news wires including the BBC’s world service reported that the attacker detonated his explosives outside of the main entrance, after being stopped by police.

Four police officers were killed by the explosion, which also killed a fifth person.

Russian news agency Itar Tass said the sixth victim died on the way to a hospital. Up to a dozen other people were reportedly injured.

A spokesman for the Chechen interior ministry said about 800 spectators inside the hall were evacuated and the surrounding area was sealed off.

The southern Russian republic of Chechnya, along with the neighbouring republics of Ingushetia and Dagestan, have seen a sudden surge in violence.

Most correspondents say the attack in the Chechen capital is linked to Islamist opposition to Moscow’s rule.

Russian forces have fought two wars against separatists in the mainly Muslim republic since 1994.

In April, Russian President Dmitry Medvedev ordered the end of a decade-long “counter-terrorism operation,” intended to pave the way for the withdrawal of thousands of troops.

But several attacks have taken place since.