Cop gravely wounded in Muslim Russian republic

One assailant has been killed and another detained in the city of Nalchik, according to local authorities

A police officer has sustained serious injuries in a knife attack on Friday in the city of Nalchik in southern Russia, according to the regional authorities. The city is located in the Muslim-majority region of Kabardino-Balkaria.

The assault took place in the evening in the city center, according to reports. The police opened fire on the attackers, who were wielding bladed weapons, killing one on the spot. The second managed to flee the scene but was detained soon thereafter. The police did not comment on the identities of the attackers, adding that the circumstances of the attack are still being investigated.

The incident was confirmed by Kazbek Kokov, the head of Kabardino-Balkaria. He only mentioned one attacker and said that he had been “neutralized.”

The injured police officer was hospitalized and is in serious condition, TASS reported, citing local emergency services.

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Images from the scene obtained by RT show at least one person in a black T-shirt and khaki trousers lying on the ground in an area cordoned off by police. The motives of the attackers remain unclear.