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(Image source: BBC)
BY JOHN O'CONNOR
At least 12 people were seriously wounded after a "black widow" bomber blew herself
up near a city square in the southern Russian region of Dagestan.
"The bomber has been identified as the widow of two Islamic militants. These so-called
'black widows' have been responsible for several suicide bombings in Russia."
Five Russian police officers were among the seriously injured, with one at least one of
the officers current in critical condition. Police have identified the "black widow" as
25-year-old Madina Alieva.
Alieva was previously married to two Islamic militants. According to the BBC, "Her first
husband was killed in 2009 and her second husband in 2012." Both by Russian forces.
Voice of America explains black widows get their name by the attacks they carry out in
retaliation toward the Russian government.
"Islamic militants are believed to advise fighters' widows that they can be reunited
with their husbands by carrying out a suicide attack. Such bombers are known as 'black widow'
attackers."
According to The Telegraph, Dagestan, where the attack took place, is " ... an ethnically
mixed, mostly Muslim region ... [it] has become the most violent province in [southern Russia],
where insurgents say they are fighting to carve out an Islamic state... "
The conflicted region was also briefly home to the Boston bombing suspects, Tamerlan and
Dzhokhar Tsarnaev.
Tamerlan, who was killed in a police operation to capture the two brothers, made a lengthy
visit to Dagestan last year and trained with a radical Islamist group. (Via Daily Mail)
There is no apparent connection between the Boston marathon bombing and this latest attack.
The "black widow" bombing was the second suicide bombing in Dagestan this week.