Dozens of people have been detained in the city of Korkino about 35 kilometers from the southern Russian city of Chelyabinsk after mass riots on October 24.
The unrest began after a local woman who worked as a taxi driver was apparently stabbed to death. Her body was found in her car.
Residents of Korkino gathered near a house believed to belong to members of the Romany diaspora and claimed two visitors were guilty of the crime. According to local Telegram channels and eyewitnesses, the house was pelted with stones and Molotov cocktails.
Special forces arrived at the scene to cordon off the building and drive away the angry crowd. People then scattered throughout the city and set fire to two more houses and several cars that they believed belonged to Romany.
The Emergencies Ministry Department for the Chelyabinsk region reported that the fires were quickly extinguished by the department's employees.
Regional Governor Aleksei Teksler said two of his deputies and special forces units of the Russian Guard had left for Korkino, and he promised "support and assistance" to the family of the deceased woman.
The local publication 74.ru reported that representatives of the Romany diaspora were leaving for the neighboring city of Yemanzhelinsk, and that at least 30 people had been taken to the Korkino police department. Local residents were also heading to the police department to support the detainees.
One news report said a 17-year-old had been detained in the killing. The suspect allegedly was a passenger in the victim’s car when a conflict arose, and he stabbed her at least four times in her chest.
The regional office of the Investigative Committee said the teenager’s involvement has not yet been confirmed.