Terrorist attack prevented in Moscow on Victory Day (May 9th)

On May 10, 2007 the Federal Security Service (FSB) said in a statement that the bomb discovered On May 8 in the car contained seven kilograms of plastic explosives as well as ball bearings, which are often used to maximize casualties, and was to be detonated during the recent May Day or Victory Day celebrations.

Kommersant reported on May 10 that the FSB uncovered the plot after a member of the underground Dagestani Islamist group, the Sharia Jamaat, cut a deal with the agency and gave it the addresses of other members of the group. This led the authorities to alleged Sharia Jamaat member Lors Khamiev, a Chechen who had previously been arrested in connection with a 2002 bomb attack on a McDonald’s restaurant in southwest Moscow but was subsequently released and never charged.

At the same day, Moscow’s Lefortovo District Court sanctioned the arrest of two Chechens, Umar Batukaev and Ruslan Musaev, in connection with an alleged plot. Batukaev is a student at the Moscow Academy of Economics and Law while Musaev has a university degree and a 4-year-old child.

It turned out that "VAZ-2107", which was found in the yard of house No 26/44 in Profsoyuznaya Street filled with armaments and ammunition, is owned by Umar Batukaev by a proxy, and the car was parked at a place allocated to the Khamiev's family. Lors Khamiev was registered in the car insurance certificate as a person entitled to drive the car.


Umar Batukaev, Ruslan Musaev and Lors Lhamiev of Chechen origin, who initially were charged with preparing a terrorist act near "Profsoyuznaya" metro station, in the course of the investigation became suspects of preparing an attempt on the life of  Ramzan Kadyrov. On December 24, 2008, preliminary hearing of the case of preparing an attempt on Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov took place in the Moscow city court. The court granted the application of defendants Ruslan Musaev, Umar Batukaev and Lors Khamiev to be tried by a jury court.

On April 2, 2009 Khamiev was sentenced to 8 years, Batukaev was sentenced to 5 years (but not for preparing an attempt but for forgery) and Musaev was acquitted.

Agentura.Ru, March 2011