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Russia: Some Rostov-on-Don laser attacks due to insurgents? (UPDATE: Maybe not...)
The June 22 Moscow laser came from Shakovo (“A” on the map), about 5 km from Domodedovo Airport (“B”)
Russia’s aviation agency says there have been 30 laser incidents thus far in 2011, a six-fold increase over the 5 incidents in 2010. Most have been from the Rostov area and from two other Moscow-area airports.
From the Moscow Times, RIA Novosti and Trend, which reported on the DPA insurgent angle. See also this earlier story at LaserPointerSafety.com.
UPDATE, June 26 2011: Rostov-on-Don police arrested a 21-year-old man for pointing his laser pointer at pilots. The man was reported by a neighbor who saw him shining a green laser into the sky at 2:45 am local time from his house at 4 Volkova Street. There was no additional information regarding any specific linkage to the five recent Rostov-on-Don laser illuminations of aircraft. From RIA Novosti and Russian Opinion. [Quick analysis: If the man was indeed responsible for the earlier incidents, the insurgent theory would seem less likely since insurgents probably would not attack from their homes.]
UPDATE 2, July 3 2011: Police said the pilot of a passenger jet was illuminated by a laser pen while landing in Rostov-on-Don on July 2 2011. [Quick analysis: Either a new person (other than the 21-year-old arrested June 26) is aiming lasers at Rostov aircraft, or police were wrong and the 21-year-old was not responsible for the June attacks.] RIA Novosti reports that the 21-year-old said he was innocent. He gave alibis to the police, who are checking out his whereabouts during the earlier incidents. From RIA Novosti. See also a July 3 story about proposed legislation introduced in the State Duma.