Less than three weeks away from the Winter Olympics in the Russian city of Sochi, security concerns are increasing with the release of an online video from Islamist terrorists and concerns that a known female suicide bomber, the “Black Widow” may have recently breached the ring of security around the site of the 2014 Olympic games.
ABC news America are reporting that wanted posters are being handed out searching for the woman.
She is identified as Ruzanna Ibragimova, a widow of a militant affiliated with the Caucasus Emirate, the terror group led by Doku Umarov that has threatened attacks against the Games.
Ibragimova is described as having a 10 centimeter scar across the left cheek, a pronounced limp, and a stiff left arm that doesn’t bend at the elbow.
The news comes in the wake of an online video posted over the last few days on a well-known Jihadi forum website promising revenge for “Muslim blood’ that has been spilt.
It shows two young men dressed in black and standing in front of a black banner with religious verse that is typically associated with al Qaeda-linked extremists.
The men say “We’ve prepared a present for you and all tourists who’ll come over. If you will hold the Olympics, you’ll get a present from us for the Muslim blood that’s been spilled.”
In a statement posted with the video on its website, the militant group Vilayat Dagestan claimed responsibility for the recent Volgograd bombings.
This is the first time any group has taken ownership of the bombings that killed 30 people.
The video claims that the two men, identified as Suleiman and Abdurakhman, were the suicide bombers.
Last month’s Volgograd attacks on a train station and a trolley bus claimed the lives of more than 30 people.
Volgograd, a major transit hub is about 650 kilometers away from Sochi.
CNN reports that in addition to the Volgograd attacks, there has also been violence in recent days in the southern republic of Dagestan.
Islamist insurgents who are seeking their own independent state have vowed to disrupt the games to undermine the President.
In a wide-ranging interview Russian President Vladimir Putin acknowledged that the Games, like any high-profile event, could be a target for terrorists.
However he claimed that Russia has a “perfect understanding” of the threat and how to stop it.
Australia is sending 60 athletes to the games—our largest ever delegation.
In the wake of the terrorist attacks last month Australian Olympic Committee president John Coates announced a range of security measures designed to protect Australian athletes.
He told the SMH “We will impress on our athletes DFAT’s advice that they exercise a high degree of caution in Russia because of the threat of terrorist activity. “
Putin has pledged that visitors to Sochi for the Winter Olympics will be kept safe.
“We will try to make certain that the security measures are not intrusive or too conspicuous, so they are not too noticeable for the athletes, the Olympics’ guests or journalists,”
“But at the same time, we will do our utmost to ensure that they are effective.”
Russia has plenty of experience in keeping international events secure, Putin said, pointing to the G8 and G20 summits as examples.
“Security is to be ensured by some 40,000 law enforcement and special services officers,” he 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.”
The Games open on February the 7th.