Chechnya attackers accused journalists of being 'terrorists'

MOSCOW (AP) — A Swedish reporter who was among a group of journalists and activists attacked by masked assailants near Chechnya said Thursday that the assailants accused them of being terrorists who were "killing our people."

Maria Persson Lofgren, a Norwegian reporter and four Russian journalists were in a minibus with two activists from Russia's Committee to Prevent Torture on Wednesday evening when men in several cars forced them off the road, ordered the bus occupants and driver out, beat them and set the vehicle afire.

Chechnya is under the control of strongman president Ramzan Kadyrov, who is intolerant of dissent and heads a private security force that critics accuse of brutality.