The Al-Qaida terrorism group has included Russia's mainly Muslim North Caucasus region in its plans to create an Islamic caliphate (the united Muslim state), head of Russian Security Council Nikolay Patrushev said Tuesday.
"Al-Qaida's main goal is to establish an Islamic caliphate spanning Central Asia, North and Central Africa and the North Caucasus," Nikolai Patrushev was quoted by RIA Novosti news agency as saying at a meeting of 44 countries for anti-crime in Sochi.
The international terrorist organizations have grown into the world movement, spreading thoroughly its ideology with terrorist seeking fertile ground for their activities, the security chief said.
Russia's volatile North Caucasus, which had experienced two Chechen wars and now continues fighting militants, could be of a great attraction for terrorists.
Numerous attacks are being reported in the region every week with militants frequently targeting on officials and police cops as representing Russian authorities.