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Russia ups security amid alert | Russia ups security amid alert |
(about 1 hour later) | |
Russia increased security in cities around the country on Wednesday after its intelligence chief warned of a terrorist attack on public transport. | |
Phone operators in Moscow also switched off signals in the metro in an apparent attempt to stop mobiles being used to detonate explosives. | |
In a highly unusual move correspondents said Moscow broadcast statements on the terrorist threats on Russian TV. | |
Authorities finally called off the alert citing a lack of evidence. | |
A spokesman for the national anti-terrorism committee said no evidence had been found to support information - from what he called foreign colleagues - that an attack was imminent. | |
However, Nikolai Sintsov said the extra security measures introduced across Russia had reduced the risk of an attack. | |
Tight security | |
Late on Tuesday, the head of the Federal Security Service (FSB) announced foreign intelligence had indicated an attack was being planned. | Late on Tuesday, the head of the Federal Security Service (FSB) announced foreign intelligence had indicated an attack was being planned. |
Nikolai Patrushev gave no further details on the origin or nature of the information. | Nikolai Patrushev gave no further details on the origin or nature of the information. |
But officials moved to assure the public that all was being done to tighten security around key civilian, government and military facilities. | |
Extra police were deployed in all of the country's major cities, with an increased presence on the underground and train stations as well as airports. | |
The last major attack on Moscow's metro system was three years ago, when two bombs killed more than 50 people. | The last major attack on Moscow's metro system was three years ago, when two bombs killed more than 50 people. |
The authorities blamed that attack on Chechen rebels. Russia has for 12 years fought a bloody campaign to suppress an insurgency in the region. | The authorities blamed that attack on Chechen rebels. Russia has for 12 years fought a bloody campaign to suppress an insurgency in the region. |
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