Head of Russian arms firm killed

Published on 07/06/2003 01:00

THE acting director of a leading Russian weapons manufacturer, a former foreign intelligence officer, was shot dead yesterday near his flat in central Moscow.

Igor Klimov, acting general director of the Almaz-Antei consortium, which makes anti-aircraft and anti-missile weapons, was shot with a handmade gun equipped with a silencer, police said. Russian news reports said he was set upon by two camouflage-clad attackers.

The ITAR-Tass news agency quoted police as saying the incident was recorded on a nearby security camera. Police said Mr Klimov was able to wrest the gun from the killer’s hands after he was shot, but died before he could use it. According to reports, the killer tried to seize Mr Klimov’s briefcase, but failed. The attackers fled and dropped the gun.