One killed as masked men attack school in Russian Caucasus

26 Jan, 2012 19:12 / Updated 12 years ago

Armed men have burst into a school building in the city of Nalchik, attacking seven people. At least one person was killed in the incident in the capital of the Republic of Kabardino-Balkaria in Russia’s North Caucasus.

Three unidentified assailants armed with pistols and an automatic gun ran into a gym hall in the school where the seven men were playing volleyball. They were bound and one of them had his throat cut. The attackers then fled the scene.According to initial reports the victim was a serviceman. An investigation is under way. Thursday was a non-academic day in the school and there were no children inside the building at the time.Nalchik is the capital of the Republic of Kabardino Balkariya in the Caucasus and has seen a number of violent incidents in the past few months.In November, in a special operation by security services, several militants were killed. They were found to be planning a terror attack in the city.In October last year another atrocity was prevented when a bomb was placed in a flowerbed in one of the central squares of Nalchik. It was discovered by members of public. Also in October police killed several militants who were planning a major attack on the republic's interior ministry.