British 'mercenary' arrested trying to escape from Chechnya

A British man described by Russian media as a mercenary has been arrested trying to get out of Chechnya.

Authorities say he was arrested carrying a Kalashnikov, ammunition, grenades, explosives and a military uniform.

Russian police are holding him in the Dagestan.

It's the first time a European has been caught after allegedly being involved in the fighting in Chechnya.

Two other mercenaries, from Bashkiria and Dagestan, were detained with him, Pravda reports.

Police and military sources believe all three were trying to escape from Chechnya to avoid Russian authorities.

They think they were fighting with Muslim rebels against the Russians.

A spokesman for the British Foreign Office said: "We are investigating these reports and trying to find out if this individual is British and what he is being held for."

Chechnya, a region of southern Russia, has been fighting against Moscow's forces for the past few years.