Around 1,000 people were arrested in central Moscow today in an attempt to prevent ethnic clashes.
The police move followed weekend rioting by youths which fuelled rumours that minorities were planning to retaliate.
Scuffles erupted today outside the Kievsky train station , which is popular with traders from the Caucasus, as hundreds of baton-wielding riot police in dark helmets rounded them up and detained young men and teenagers shouting racist slogans.
Some who appeared to be from the Caucasus also were detained.
A police spokesman said that most of those arrested were rounded up at the station, where officers also confiscated dozens of knives and other weapons.