MOSCOW, October 13 (RIA Novosti) – A protest in southern Moscow over a recent murder turned violent on Sunday, as scuffles broke out between police and protesters after a local shopping center was targeted.
Local reporters say that up to 1,000 people gathered in southern Moscow to urge police to detain the suspect in a recent murder case, and to call for tighter migration law.
The protests focused on the local police headquarters, and on a shopping center reportedly targeted for the high numbers of migrant workers employed there.
Some protesters forced their way into the shopping center, breaking glass and setting off smoke bombs, journalists at the scene reported. They are also reported to be targeting a nearby vegetable market.
Moscow police said Sunday evening that they had detained seven people on hooliganism charges over the violence.
Local lawmakers and residents took part in the protest, which also drew nationalist activists and football fans, journalists at the scene reported.
The murder happened on Thursday in Biryulevo in southern Moscow. A 25-year-old man was fatally stabbed as he was returning home with his girlfriend, a statement on the Russian Investigative Committee website says.
Local law enforcement agencies have circulated CCTV footage of a man they believe to be the main suspect. Russian media have identified the alleged attacker as a migrant.
Story amended on Oct. 15 modifying reference to murder time: Russian police and Investigative Committee identify it as the night of Thursday-Friday, and Wednesday-Thursday, respectively.
