Jan 21, 2014 01:55 PM EST
Three 'Black Widows' Could Be in Sochi; Security Tightens for Games

As the Winter Olympics approach, Sochi is even more on edge as Russian security officials search for a female suicide bomber believed to be in city limits.

Officials are hunting for three women altogether, possible suicide bombers that are known as "black widows" in reference to the belief that they are avenging dead husbands or other male relatives, The Associated Press reported.

Ruzanna Ibragimova, 22, is believed to be at large in Sochi, according to a police letter seen by an AP reporter. She is the widow of an Islamic militant.

"We know some of them got through the perimeter," Rep. Michael McCaul, chairman of the U.S. House Homeland Security Committee, told the AP. "She's for real. What we don't know is how many more black widows are out there."

Russia has been turbulent even as officials tighten security leading up to the Olympics. The city of Volgograd in the south was the scene of two suicide bombings last month. Thirty-four people were killed, and many more were injured, the AP reported.

McCaul and other Americans have been working with officials in Moscow and Sochi to improve security.

United States officials have information that could help keep people safe at the games if the Russians are willing to work with them, McCaul told the AP.

"The one improvement I would ask of the Russians is to allow our intelligence services to coordinate and cooperate better with theirs," he said.

Sochi security officials were not available for comment to the AP on Tuesday.

Besides the worrying fact that a black widow was able to get in after security tightened, McCaul wondered if militants could have infiltrated Sochi earlier.

"How many potential cells could be in Sochi and the Olympic village?" he said. "But after 'the ring of steel' was implemented we have this one person who seems to have been able to penetrate it. It does demonstrate vulnerability."

See Now: OnePlus 6: How Different Will It Be From OnePlus 5?

 PREVIOUS POST
NEXT POST 

EDITOR'S PICK    

Hyundai to Invest $16.1 Billion for EV Business; Sets Annual Sales Goal of 1.87M Electric Cars by 2030

World's Most Expensive and Most Heavily-optioned Porsche 928 GTS is Coming Home to the U.S.

Major Boost as Tesla Giga Berlin Facility in Final Phase of Approval Process; Delivery Event Set This Month

Audi Looking for e-tron Electric Vehicles to Spur Car Brand's Growth in India in 2022

Toyota Offers Free EV Charging to Owners of 2023 bZ4X After Partnership Agreement with EVgo

2022 Suzuki Baleno Finally Unveiled in India: What are the Specs and Features of this City Car?