Terrorist jailed for 23 years in Russia

A court in Russia on Thursday sentenced a terrorist to 23 years in a high-security prison after he was convicted of plotting a terror attack and a murder attempt on a police officer. The court in southern Stavropol region sentenced 24-year-old Viktor Dvorakovsky for also making explosive devices and inciting racial hatred and for fraud, a news agency reported. "Dvorakovsky has been sentenced to 23 years in a high-security correctional facility, two years of probation and a 100,000-ruble fine," an official said. His accomplice, Vladimir Skirko, was sentenced to six years in a general correctional facility on charges of extremism and possessing drugs. According to prosecutors, Dvorakovsky converted to Islam and, with Skirko, started an active extremist propaganda campaign in Stavropol in 2010. He was put on a wanted list after a self-made bomb accidentally exploded in his apartment in Pyatigorsk in March 2011. Dvorakosky was arrested in July 2011. During the arrest, he tossed a self-made bomb, injuring a police officer. He tried to throw two more bombs at the policemen but they exploded in his hands. His right hand was torn off in the blast. In preparation for his terror attacks, the man also stole over 25,000 rubles (around $800) from a bank, prosecutors said.