 The day before the attack, Chechen separatist leader Aslan Maskhadov, speaking for RFE/RL, claimed rebels are "going to switch to offensive warfare".In July 2004, Maskhadov publicly accepted responsibility for the attack and promised more similar attacks.According to the official figures, 92 people were killed in the raid, including at least 47 police officials, a number later revised downward to 98.