Basayev the Butcher Killed In Russian Raid

Chechen warlord Shamil Basayev, the purported author of modern Russia's worst terrorist attacks, has been killed, the head of the Federal Security Service said Monday. FSB head Nikolai Patrushev told President Vladimir Putin that Basayev had been killed overnight in Ingushetia, the ITAR-Tass news agency reported.

Basayev is believed to be the mastermind of the Beslan school massacre that resulted in more than 330 killed - mostly women and children.

More detail on the operation to eliminate this terrorist can be found here.

UPDATE:
For a list of terrorist attacks claimed by Basayev, see here. His followers engaged in numerous mass casualty attacks against a wide range of targets, from schools to hospitals. Some details are emerging about how he died.

Patrushev gave no details of the operation in his televised remarks, but an Ingush regional Interior Ministry official, speaking on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to speak to the media, said Basayev had been killed while accompanying a truck filled with 220 pounds of dynamite that blew up in the Ingush village of Ekazhevo early Monday.

Basayev was among four militants killed in the blast, which authorities earlier said had occurred inadvertently during a special police operation against rebels preparing an attack later Monday.

The Interfax news agency quoted Ingush Deputy Prime Minister Bashir Aushev as offering the same version of events and saying Basayev had been in a car accompanying the truck. He said Basayev's body had been identified "through some of the fragments, including his head," Interfax reported.

The message sent by the Russians to other terrorists: You can run, but you can't hide. That goes especially for the terrorists who murdered the four Russian diplomats in Iraq in most gruesome fashion.

UPDATE:
Rob Port, who also notes that Basayev could have had his meeting with the devil much sooner had ABC News provided the Russian authorities with details of his location when they interviewed him for a news report.

Others noting Basayev's elimination and date with the devil: Hot Air, Meryl Yourish, Blue Crab Boulevard, Charles at LGF, and The Moderate Voice.

UPDATE:
I don't think I can fully explain what eliminating Basayev does for the Russians. He has been a thorn in the side of Putin for years - and there are more than a 1,000 dead Russians as a result of his terrorist attacks. It's a huge victory for Putin.

The Agonist wonders whether it will really matter.


Others blogging Basayev's trip to the ninth plane of hell: Emperor Darth Misha, Assorted Babble, Security Watchtower, Pajamas Media, Gina Cobb, Western Resistance, Joseph Alex,