Russia: Teenager shot dead in Muslim-majority Tatarstan after stabbing police officer

Teenager was shot dead after attempting to set fire to police station

The shooting took place in the republic of Tatarstan, which is some 500 miles east of the Russian capital, Moscow. (Photo by YURI KADOBNOV/AFP via Getty Images) (AFP via Getty Images)

Russian police in the majority-Muslim republic of Tatarstan fatally shot dead a 16-year old teenager on Friday, who they say stabbed an officer and attempted to set fire to a police station. 

The incident, which happened just after midnight local time, left the officer in hospital with non-life-threatening knife wounds. 

According to an official statement by state investigators, the alleged assailant threw at least two Molotov cocktails in the direction of the local police station in Kukmor, 75 miles east from the regional capital Kazan,  and the adjacent parking lot. The teenager then “attempted to run away” before being apprehended by a group of officers.

“The young man faced to react to repeated demands to stop his actions,” the statement reads. “During arrest, he actively resisted and  stabbed one officer multiple times. Taking into account his agressive behaviour… officers used standard-issue weapons.” 

Baza, an unofficial social media channel associated with law enforcement, later claimed to identify the young man as 16-year-old Vitaly Antipov. 

The same channel suggested the young man shouted “God will save me, unbelievers, Allahu Akhbar” and recorded a social media post “calling for jihad” shortly before attacking the station.

Tatarstan is located some 500 miles east of Moscow.