Attempted hostage-taking in an Orthodox Church in Grozny (Chechnya)

On May 19, four men entered the church of Archangel Michael in the center of Grozny, the Chechen capital, « with the aim of taking believers hostage, » according to Chechen President Ramzan Kadyrov, as quoted by the official TASS Russian News Agency. They were shot dead by the police. Two policemen and a worshipper lost their lives during the operation. According to Tamara Pogorelova, eyewitness to the events, the terrorist attack