Police in Russia's volatile North Caucasus region have arrested three militants in connection with the bombing of a market in the city of Vladikavkaz in September, the National Antiterror Committee (NAK) said on Tuesday.
The militants, who are believed to be connected to Chechnya's most wanted terrorist leader Doku Umarov, are also thought to be behind the bombing of a highway checkpoint in the same region.
"The direct executors of the bombs are the active gang members Daurbek, Latirov and his brother and ringleader Hashagulgova. They have been arrested," the report said.
The market bombing in the center of the capital of the republic of North Ossetia, killed 17 people and injured over 200.
NAK reported on Tuesday that it had killed 301 millitants and arrested 468 more in the North Caucasus region since the beginning of the year.
The committe estimated that it has prevented 61 terrorist attacks in the region.
The report said anti-terrorist operations would continue in the region.
"The measures we have taken have allowed us to reduce terrorist activity in the region by 12 percent compared to the same period in 2009," the report said.
MOSCOW, October 12 (RIA Novosti)
