AN attack on an Orthodox church Saturday in the mainly Muslim southern Russian republic of Chechnya killed two policemen and a civilian and left four rebels dead, officials said.

The attack underscored security challenges in Russia as it prepares to host soccer’s World Cup next month. The provincial capital of Chechnya, Grozny, is not scheduled to host any World Cup games, but the Egyptian team planned to use it as a training base.

Chechnya’s regional leader, Ramzan Kadyrov, said the gunmen attacked the Archangel Michael Church in the center of Grozny.

He said on his blog that he personally oversaw a special operation in which all the assailants were killed.

The Investigative Committee, Russia’s top investigative agency, said two police officers were killed and another two were wounded in the clash. One churchgoer also died.

Kadyrov said the gunmen also carried axes and Molotov cocktails. He praised police officers who guarded the church for their courage and said the region would help the families of the officers who died.

Father Sergiy, the priest at Archangel Michael Church, said a service was being held when participants heard shots and chants of “Allahu akbar” outside.

(SD-Agencies)