Hundreds of Arson Attacks Rock Russia: Revolt or Elaborate Scheme?
On December 21st, Alexander Nikiforov was arrested in Kolpino, near St. Petersburg, after setting fire to newspapers placed on ATM terminals on three separate occasions. He was subsequently charged with terrorism. Nikiforov claims he acted under duress, following instructions from unknown telephone scammers. This incident is one of several similar attacks against financial institutions and government buildings that week, raising concerns about a potential organized scam.
John Q. Hosedrinker