Islamist gunmen paralyze Chechen capital of Grozny

In what is described as “the most brazen terrorist attack” in the Russian region of Chechniya in recent months, Islamist gunmen struck the capital of Grozny Thursday night, leaving some 19 people dead in a wide range of central targets. They were tackled by government security forces as they struck – hours before President Vladimir Putin delivered his state of the nation speech in Moscow. DEBKAfile adds: Many Chechen jihadis are fighting with ISIS in Syria and Iraq. Like the West, Russia fears they will continue to sow terror on their return home.