Khalilov first became well known after the January 18, 2002, bombing of a Russian military truck, which killed seven Interior Ministry soldiers in the capital of Dagestan, Makhachkala. He was soon blamed by the FSB to have ordered the bombing of a parade near the military barracks in the city of Kaspiysk during a Russian Victory Day celebrations on May 9, 2002, but Khalilov and Shariat Jamaat always denied responsibility for this attack saying they don't target civilians (the blast killed at least 19 soldiers and 15 civilians, including 12 children).