Hizb Ut-Tahrir Members Arrested After Daghestan Raid

A special operation in Russia's North Caucasus has resulted in the arrests of 52 suspected members of the banned Islamic group Hizb ut-Tahrir, including an "international emissary" of the group who is a Kyrgyz citizen.

Russia's Interior Ministry said on December 10 that raids were conducted on 47 apartments in Daghestan where the Hizb ut-Tahrir suspects lived.

Among those detained was a man identified as Kazimzhan Sheraliev, a citizen of Kyrgyzstan.

Three leaders of the banned group were also arrested. The raids also led to the seizure of hand grenades, material for making homemade explosives, and "electronic and printed material of an extremist nature."

The ministry said the raids were continuing.

Hizb ut-Tahrir advocates the creation of an Islamic caliphate in historically Muslim lands but the group publicly disavows the use of force to achieve its goal.

Based on reporting by ITAR-TASS and Interfax