Reports from Chechnya say police have arrested nine members of a gang alleged to be responsible for a string of kidnappings, murders and armed attacks.

The Russian news agency, Interfax, said the arrests took place in and around the Chechen capital, Grozny, last night following an attack by members of the gang on a police station in Shekovsky district.

Machine guns, grenade launchers, mines and explosives were also seized, along with forged identify documents.

The Chechen deputy security minister, Khezir Mezhidov, is quoted as saying the group was especially dangerous and believed responsible for nine murders, twelve violent robberies and several kidnappings.