Volcano, the Caucasus, and a "Holy War"

• A "holy war" is ignited against Holy Russia, seemingly subsidized by a pious and wealthy Saudi who has dedicated himself to the cause of the global Islamic revolution, named Osama Bin Laden.
• This, at least, is what Vladimir Rushailo and FBI head Louis Freeh say.
• [Reconstruction by Russian special services: the link between Khattab, Basaev, and Bin Laden, a subsidy of 25 or 35 million dollars, in exchange for Khattab's promise of asylum for Laden in Chechnya if his nest in Afghanistan becomes impractical; the war in Dagestan will "tie Russia down for the next 20 years", bombings in Moscow as revenge for the air raids; the "Moscow" group arrived in the last week of August, and the Manezh explosion is also their handiwork].

15.09.99. Russia in Chaos. "Soldiers Against Terror"

• After the bomb, Yeltsin mobilizes the army.
• The death toll of the latest terrorist attack has worsened: 118 bodies recovered from the rubble.
• People are fleeing to dachas or organizing night patrols to guard houses.
• Minister of Internal Affairs: "They want to strike in other cities of Russia as well. But it is impossible to say where and when".
• Three tons of explosives were found in the vicinity of the destroyed house.
• Photos of two new suspects have been distributed. Three arrests.

[Night patrols in poor neighborhoods; Yeltsin called the army to help the police]

• "According to information from various sources," reported Deputy Minister of Internal Affairs Igor Zubov, "the bandits intend to commit terrorist acts in various cities of Russia. It is impossible to say where and when the strikes will be."
• The same ministry distributed photographs of two other wanted persons.
• Investigators believe that the terrorist attacks in Moscow were committed by the same cell.
• Perhaps the discovery on Monday night in a house not far from the targeted zone of an impressive amount of explosives—three and a half tons of ammonal—will force the terrorists to change their plans. Or perhaps a different tactic is already anticipated.
• Yesterday, the authorities warned Muscovites to pay attention to suspicious cars. Obviously, they fear car bombs.
• More specifically, investigators reported the arrest of two owners of a warehouse in the basement of the house blown up on Kashirskoye Highway, rented by the mysterious Mukhit Laipanov, a so-called furniture dealer, who presented documents of a person who had been dead for several months.
• Using techniques and a scheme of action absolutely identical to the previous terrorist attack, the fake Laipanov planted a bomb in this place instead of furniture.
• Along with the two owners, the driver who transported the unusual trunks to this warehouse was also arrested. Possibly having no idea what it was about. But it is hoped that the driver will at least be able to remember where he brought the cargo from.
• The lead being investigated is the Chechen trail, linked to the attacks in the "holy war" declared by partisan leaders Basaev and Khattab against Russia.

16.09.99. Russia in Chaos. Moscow, Truck of Terror. Army on the Hunt for Bombers from the Caucasus.

• According to Putin, the authors of the massacre are in Chechnya (Alberto Stabile).
• Tons of explosive substances, capable of blowing up entire blocks, were brought to the capital from the depths of the Caucasus, hidden among a batch of sugar bags produced at a Cherkessk factory.
• Part of the cargo was seized yesterday at a warehouse on the periphery of the city.
• But 1,800 kg of the deadly mixture used in the last two terrorist attacks, which caused more than two hundred deaths, has not yet been tracked and investigated.
• A Russian-made small truck is being sought.
• The driver [Chauffeur] is invited to report to the police: this man's life, investigators say on TV, may be in danger.
• [...] Many hundreds [literally: dozens of hundreds] of people have been detained as suspects, it is unknown how justified.
• Two prominent figures of the organization have been put on the wanted list; their faces are repeated on thousands and thousands of posters that can be seen in every corner of the city.
• Investigators are helping to better clarify the so-called Chechen trail.
• "It is an established fact that the attacks of these days were carried out by Chechen terrorists who used persons with Slavic appearance," said Deputy Chief of Moscow Police Alexander Vedyaev.
• "The authors of the massacre are hiding in Chechnya," added Prime Minister Vladimir Putin, who would like to isolate the Caucasian.