MOSCOW, Feb. 20 (UPI) -- Russian police say they have raised the terrorism alert status following the slayings of three tourists in the Northern Caucasus.
The tourists were from Moscow and were gunned down after their van was forced to pull over by armed men on a highway in Kabardino-Balkaria Friday.
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The killings occurred amid a rash of bombings in the region. The RIA Novosti news service said Sunday police in the area were on heightened alert.
ITAR-Tass said police also intercepted a car carrying three bombs near a hotel at a popular Caucasus ski resort.
"If the bombs had been detonated … it would have been impossible to avoid a considerable number of victims and considerable destruction," a police spokesman said.
