Five police officers killed in Russia's volatile North Caucasus

NALCHIK, RUSSIA: Five police officers on Wednesday were killed in a shooting attack in Russia's volatile North Caucasus region, RIA Novosti reported.

The attack took place at a cafe in the North Caucasus republic of Kabardino-Balkaria. A group of unidentified gunmen stormed into the dinner where traffic police officers were having lunch.

The assailants shot the police officers execution style. Four of them died at the cafe while the other passed away at a nearby hospital. In addition to the five fatal victims, one police officer was injured.

A criminal investigation was launched to identify and detain the gunmen. Earlier in the day, another police officer was reportedly shot dead in a drive-by shooting in Kabardino-Balkaria.

The North Caucasus region in southern Russia has witnessed many attacks in recent times. Last Wednesday, 4 people were killed and six injured after an explosion in a cafe in Khasavyurt.

On January 14, a similar car bomb attack killed four people and injured five others in Khasavyurt in Russia's volatile southern republic of Dagestan.

In early January, Russia executed an anti-terrorism special operation in Khasavyurt. A shootout erupted and four militants were killed by the police forces.

Russia has been heavily involved in combating militant groups in the North Caucasus area. In April 2009, Russia ended its ten-year-long anti terrorism campaign against separatist forces in Chechnya.

(BNO NEWS )