Police investigate Anzhi terrorism claims
Police are investigating reports that a terrorist attack has been planned for a football match between Russian champions Zenit St. Petersburg and big-spending Anzhi Makhachkala, the interior ministry of the southern region of Dagestan said.
Anzhi and Zenit are scheduled to play Sunday in Makhachkala, the capital of Dagestan.
Earlier Friday, St. Petersburg news agency Rosbalt, citing an unnamed source in the Dagestan police, reported that authorities had received a telephone call about a terrorist attack said to be planned by a Spartak Moscow fan named Rodion.
The unknown caller was reportedly based in the city of Vyborg near St. Petersburg and said he had found out about the supposed attack online.
"Online media have reported that one of the fans on their way to the capital of Dagestan for the Anzhi-Zenit match is planning to commit a terrorist act," a statement issued by the Dagestan interior ministry said Friday.
"This message is being carefully checked by all the operational law enforcement services."
No additional safety measures will be taken during the match, the ministry added.
Dagestan is one of Russia’s poorest regions and is seen as a hotbed of terrorist activity and the origin of several deadly attacks over the last few years.
As recently as May, 14 people were killed and 122 wounded in suicide blasts in Makhachkala.
Militants from the regions were blamed for a double suicide blast on the Moscow subway in 2010 that killed 40 people.
In July, UEFA declared Dagestan unfit to hold Europa League matches after Anzhi qualified for the Europa League.
Anzhi's players and staff are based near Moscow and only travel to Dagestan for matches.
