United Press International
March 25 2007

Russian nationalist extremists jailed

ST. PETERSBURG, Russia, March 24 (UPI) — Russian authorities have
rounded up members of two nationalist extremist groups suspected in a
string of explosions and other attacks on immigrants.

St. Petersburg city prosecutor Sergei Zaitsev said 10 area residents
ages 17 to 23 were charged in connection with attacks on citizens of
Armenia, Uzbekistan, Moldova and Cameroon in the past month in St.
Petersburg and Pushkin, Itar-Tass reported Saturday.

Authorities said three of five suspects in the bombing of a
McDonald’s fast-food restaurant also have been arrested, and
explosives and bomb parts were seized. Police, who have confirmed the
identity of the bombs used at both the McDonald’s attack that injured
six people and an explosion at a flower kiosk near a train station,
said the arrests prevented at least two more explosions.

Zaitsev said the suspects were taking part in actions organized by
the Movement Against Illegal Migration. "The perpetrators wanted not
only to breach the order but also to intimidate the authorities," he
said.