Grozny, Russia ? Islamic insurgents attacked Chechnya’s parliament Tuesday in a brazen suicide raid that left six people dead and 17 wounded, defying Kremlin claims of stability in the volatile southern region.

In a clear challenge to Moscow, the raid occurred just as Russia’s interior minister was visiting the provincial capital of Grozny.

The three attackers drove to the tightly guarded parliament complex and got inside. One militant blew himself up at the doors and another two ran into the building shouting “Allahu akbar!” — “God is great!” in Arabic — as they opened fire on the people inside, said Chechen police spokesman Ramzan Bekkhoyev.

The regional chief prosecutor’s office said the remaining two attackers also blew themselves up after exchanging fire with police, while other officials said they were killed in a gunbattle. Two police officers and a civilian government employee were killed in the raid and 17 others were wounded, prosecutors said.

Bloodstains, body parts and a decapitated corpse were still scattered outside the building hours after the attack.