Search for Black Widows

[Minskaya]

Olympics terror dragnet: Russia hunts as many as four 'black widows'
January 20, 2014


Ruzana Ibragimov

Russian security services may be looking for as many as four “black widows” dispatched to carry out terrorist attacks related to the Winter Olympics, including at least one woman believed to be in or near the Olympic city of Sochi, U.S. and Russian sources told NBC News on Monday. Wanted posters that have gone up in Sochi, where the games open Feb. 7, describe at least one suspected terrorist — Ruzan Ibragimova, also known as Ruzana, the 22-year-old widow of an Islamic militant killed by Russian security forces last year. The notices describe her as having a limp in her right leg, a left arm that does not bend at the elbow and a 4-inch scar on her cheek.

Source: NBC News

Ibragimov reportedly left Dagistan a month ago and arrived in the Sochi area around January 10.

[Doktor]

Source: NBC News

Ibragimov reportedly left Dagistan a month ago and arrived in the Sochi area around January 10.

If I were them, I wouldn't answer the phone.

On a serious note I hope a joint effort by the intel agencies will prevent any incident that will hurt the sportsmen and women or the public.

[MrSecond]

Sochi now is the safest city in Russia. It was closed for visitors about two weeks ago, you can't get in without special permission, so-called "passport of fan" which you can have after you have bought ticket for olympics. I suppose, passport of fan is given to you after FSB and police check you out. And the security services blocked even mountain paths. Though I don't think there will be many people from abroad. Russia is not very popular touristic place in the world.

[Doktor]

Sochi now is the safest city in Russia. It was closed for visitors about two weeks ago, you can't get in without special permission, so-called "passport of fan" which you can have after you have bought ticket for olympics. I suppose, passport of fan is given to you after FSB and police check you out. And the security services blocked even mountain paths. Though I don't think there will be many people from abroad. Russia is not very popular touristic place in the world.

Is it Olympics or military base?

IDK if it is high or low, but Russia was visited by ~18mn people last year.

[MrSecond]

Is it Olympics or military base?

Now it's both. Really tough control - they can't afford any troubles with terrorists at the olympics.
I just hope that'll work. Actually I'm sure that'll work. Russian special services have quite a solid background at providing safety during big public events, even in such big city as Moscow. But the bloody bas*ards may try to hit anywhere else.

[Stitch]

If I were them, I wouldn't answer the phone.

On a serious note I hope a joint effort by the intel agencies will prevent any incident that will hurt the sportsmen and women or the public.

According to US sources, trying to get accurate intel from Russian security services is "extremely frustrating"; apparently, the Russians are acting like the Cold War is still on.

[dave lukins]

According to US sources, trying to get accurate intel from Russian security services is "extremely frustrating"; apparently, the Russians are acting like the Cold War is still on.

I would hope getting intel was extremely difficult. If it is difficult to the requester then it is difficult to the terrorist. I'm sure intel has been passed but it will be highly secretive and highly selective. Those who need to know will know.

[dave lukins]

But the bloody bas*ards may try to hit anywhere else.

That would be a tactic a frustrated terrorist would most likely use. The threat of terror is almost as bad as the act itself.

[NUS]

According to US sources, trying to get accurate intel from Russian security services is "extremely frustrating"; apparently, the Russians are acting like the Cold War is still on.

Tsarnaev case tells another story.

[Minskaya]

Turkey has granted permission for two waiting US warships to enter the Black Sea. They will remain off the coast of Sochi for the duration of the XXII Olympic Winter Games. The warships are equipped with helicopters should it become necessary to evacuate American athletes or citizens in an emergency. The USAF also has C-17 transport craft in Germany (two hour flight) reserved for this purpose. Whether such assets would be granted permission to land on Russian territory is an unknown at this point.

[SajeevJino]

.

Why not the Rapers find Girls Like Black Widow's

[Doktor]

That would be a tactic a frustrated terrorist would most likely use. The threat of terror is almost as bad as the act itself.

Which makes me confused with the current 'hunt'.

[Minskaya]

The four possible Black Widows being hunted by Russian security forces. Authorities fear that Ibramigova may have entered the Sochi area before the city was closed. She may be hiding in plain sight wearing western style clothing.

[Doktor]

Is this the usual modus operandi for catching terrorists? Alerting the public and waiting for tips?

[Dreadnought]

Russia has also requested US help with the possibility of road side bombings.

The United States is considering a Russian request to help with the security at the upcoming Winter Olympics in Sochi by providing equipment that can counter remote-controlled roadside bombs, a technology first developed by the U.S. military for the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.

It is the first time that Russia has publicly expressed interest in a standing U.S. offer to help with security at the games that get underway on Feb. 7.

The request was made Tuesday during a long-scheduled meeting in Brussels between Martin Dempsey, the chairman of the U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff, and his Russian counterpart, Gen. Valery Gerasimov.

A spokesman for Dempsey confirmed to ABC News that the Russians briefly broached the subject of the United States providing what is known as counter-IED (improvised explosive device) technology. IED is the military’s term for the deadly roadside bombs used by insurgents in Iraq and Afghanistan against U.S. troops.

The U.S. military has spent billions over the past decade in developing technologies to detect and counter the simple but deadly bombs, including developing radio jammers capable of blocking radio or cellphone signals used to trigger a roadside bomb by remote-control.

The official said the Russian request is for a variety of IED detection and countering hardware, including radio jammers.

The spokesman said the United States was looking to see if the American technologies were compatible with Russian gear. The request could open up the possibility that U.S. troops might be called on to operate the gear for the Russians, although the official cautioned that the first step was to see if the request was even feasible.

Armed Forces Press Service quoted Dempsey as saying after the meeting that the U.S. was willing to help Russia with security for the Olympics if asked. “I reiterated the fact that we would favorably consider requests from them,” Dempsey said.

He also said that providing security against international terrorists would be a problem anywhere, but he acknowledged that the nearby restive states of Chechnya and Dagestan brought their own unique threats.

Gerasimov told Dempsey that Russia had the right hand-picked security force in place, as well as the intelligence, to deal with threats at the Sochi games, including air defense, maritime defense, chemical and biological defense, backup medical support for civilian authorities, management of the electronic spectrum and electronic warfare.

On Monday, a Pentagon spokesman confirmed that the U.S. European Command had developed contingency plans to assist with an evacuation of American citizens from Sochi if needed.

Two U.S. Navy ships, a destroyer and a small amphibious ship, will be in the Black Sea at the time of the Olympics. Although they will not be providing security for the games, they will be available to help with an evacuation effort.

Russia Calls On U.S. Military Tech to Counter Roadside Bombs at Winter Olympics - ABC News