By IANS/RIA Novosti,
Moscow : The number of terrorism-related crimes in Russia went down by half in 2011 from the previous year’s figures, a top official said Wednesday.
The number of such crimes in 2011 stood at 365 while it was 779 in 2010, said Aleksandr Bortnikov, head of Russia’s Federal Security Service (FSB).
The National Anti-Terrorism Committee’s actions contributed to the decrease, he said.
Nadezhda Shilova of the anti-terrorism committee said there were 10 terrorist attacks in Russia in 2011, while in 2010 there were 23 such attacks.
Bortnikov said special centres have been set up that help former criminals adapt to a life outside terrorism.
A total of 49 people have been persuaded to quit terrorism, he said.
At least 50 gang leaders, including two Al Qaeda militants, were eliminated in the North Caucasus in 2011.
Sporadic terrorist attacks and militant clashes are common in the Muslim majority North Caucasus republics, especially Chechnya, Dagestan and Ingushetia.