MOSCOW. Sept 10 (Interfax) - Two militants were neutralized during a counterterrorism operation in the Buinaksk district in Russia's internal republic of Dagestan; automatic weapons and ammunition were seized from the site of the shootout, while a ready-to-use improvised explosive device was found in the militants' car, the press center for the National Antiterrorism Committee (NAC) said on Friday.
"Last night, two armed gang members were spotted by security forces in a forest in the Buinaksk district of the republic of Dagestan during an operation to hunt persons plotting to commit terrorism-related crimes," NAC said.
"In order to stop them from staging terrorist acts and to maintain citizens' security, the director of the republican branch of the Russian Federal Security Service made a decision to conduct a counterterrorism operation and to enforce the relevant legal regime," it said.
"The militants were offered to lay down their weapons and to surrender to the authorities. In reply, they opened fire on law enforcement personnel and were neutralized during the shootout. Automatic weapons and ammunition were seized from the site of the armed clash, while a ready-to-use improvised explosive device was found in the criminals' car," it said.
"There were no casualties among law enforcement personnel. No civilians were injured," NAC said.