The Sochi Olympic torch arrived in the southern Russian city Volgograd on Monday, amid increased security concerns.
250 torch-bearers carried the torch through the streets of the city, before a ceremony at the Trade Union Sports Center. Monday was the 106th day of the relay, which began at Red Square in Moscow on October 7th. The relay will end at the Black Sea resort town of Sochi before the opening ceremony on February 7th.
Meanwhile a video by two militants who claimed responsibility for two deadly suicide bombings have raised security concerns. In the video they also threaten more violence during the Olympic Games.
A Moscow-based security analyst says the threat should be taken seriously.
"I think it’s quite serious, given the fact that they have capabilities to strike beyond the North Caucasus, which they demonstrated in Volgograd, and the fact that it’s extremely difficult to stop a lone wolf suicide bombing attack. Well, the problem is that these two people on this video they promised a surprise not specifically in Sochi but just for Russians and for the tourists and for the visitors to the Olympics. So they never try to specify the place where they might strike. That’s why everybody should be concerned," said Andrei Soldatov, security analyst.