Interior Minister Vladimir Kolokoltsev said Friday that 90 percent of terrorism-related crimes committed in Russia last year took place in the North Caucasus.
"Armed criminal groups continue to be active in the region, and their members commit attacks on authorities, Muslim clergy and members of the police force and judiciary," Kolokoltsev said at a news conference, Interfax reported.
Kolokoltsev noted that 637 terrorism-related crimes were registered in 2012 but that the number of terror attacks decreased to 24.
The country's top cop said that law enforcement and special forces officers would continue to focus on terrorism in the coming year.
"The situation remains rather dangerous," he said.
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