14 militants, 1 policeman killed in shoot-outs in Russia’s restive North Caucasus

14 militants, 1 policeman killed in Russia

ROSTOV-ON-DON, Russia — Russian police say at least 14 suspected militants and one police officer have been killed in three security raids in the country’s volitive North Caucasus region.

Police say nine militants were killed in two separate shootouts with police in the Kabardino-Balkariya republic late Friday evening. They said two of the militants were suspected of organizing a deadly bombing in the same area in May.

In the Caucasus republic of Dagestan, police said five militants and one police officer were killed in another shootout that same evening.

Russia has been fighting an insurgency in the southern region following two wars in Chechnya in the past 15 years. The militants seek an Islamic emirate across the North Caucasus.