Recently a video was released by the two men who carried out suicide attacks in south Russia. The video was meant to send a warning message to Vladmir Putin to expect a presence from Islamist militants during the Sochi Winter Olympics from their fighters.
The video was posted online through the Jihadi forum website that has a known association with militants located in Russia's northern Caucasus area. According to reports, Moscow has been fighting against insurgency in this region for more than a decade.
The two men in the video were filmed with assault rifles and went by the names Suleiman and Abdulrakhman. The video also featured the two with explosive devices attached to them, with one of them pushing a button that appears to be a trigger. The suicide bombers allegedly attacked the city of Volgograd last month, killing 34 people.
In addition to the video threat, there have also been reported spottings of the widows of Caucasus separatist fighters in the Sochi area. The group have been suspected of attempting to carry out suicide bombings during the Olympic Games.
The bombings and subsequent threats have created an urgency for better security measures to be put in place for all activities surrounding the Winter Olympics. The Russian President Vladimir Putin understands that the Olympic Games is a likely target for terrorist because it's a high-profile event. However, he feels that they have knowledge of this threat and know how to end it.
"Security is to be ensured by some 40,000 law enforcement and special services officers," Putin said. "Of course, we will draw on the experience acquired during similar events held in other regions of the world and in other countries. It means that we will protect our air and sea space, as well as the mountain cluster."
There will be a contingency plan in place to aid in evacuating American officials and athletes from Sochi, Russia during the Winter Olympics if necessary. The U.S. military will bring in aircraft and warships to have on standby. Due to the heightened threats and bombings in Russia, it's essential to be on alert, according to the official, in case Moscow asks for assistance.
This article is copyrighted by Travelers Today, the travel news leader
