MAKHACHKHALA (Sputnik) – The late-night incident took place in a rural area some 30 miles southwest of the Dagestani capital of Makhachkala. Special forces are known to patrol the Buynaksky district, where the shootout took place.
"Law enforcement officers stopped a VAZ 2107 car for document inspection. Persons occupying it opened fire on security forces and were eliminated in retaliatory fire," the source said.
The source added that law enforcement officials were unable to establish the shooters’ identities because their vehicle caught on fire.
A Dagestan Interior Ministry official confirmed the shootout, but said the number of those killed was unclear because of the fire.
