Officials: Militants planned attacks

MOSCOW, Feb. 14 (UPI) -- Three militants killed in Ingushetia had planned terrorist attacks against local government officials, the Russian Federal Security Service said Saturday.

RIA Novosti reported the Russian intelligence agency said a militant leader, identified as A. Taziyev, sent a group of suicide bombers to Nazran in January to prepare terrorist attacks against newly appointed Ingush leaders.

The alleged would-be terrorists were killed in a shootout with police in southwest Nazran. The Russian news agency said four police officers were killed and three others were injured in the operation. Also killed were three militants, including one woman.

Police said they found six explosive devices with the equivalent of more than 1 ton of TNT, firearms and ammunition at the site.

"A large number of explosives in the house indicates that the hideout could have been used as an explosives-making lab," the FSB statement said.