Police identifies suspect in Russia's bus bombings

By Staff
|
Google Oneindia News

Moscow, Nov 1 (UNI) Russian investigators have identified a suspect in Togliatti bus bombings in the Volga area in Samara region.

The federal head of the investigations committee Alexander Bastrykin told Russian news agencies today a search of the suspect's apartment had been carried out, and that bomb parts which ''could have been used for the preparation of a homemade explosive device,'' had been found.

However, Bastrykin refused to answer whether the suspect had been detained or had perished in the explosion.

He also said the bomb was similar to a device used by members of far-right group in a 2006 attack on Cherkizovsky market here which killed 11 people.

The Governor of the Samara region declared today a day of mourning for the victims of bus bombings which killed eight people and injured 63 yesterday.

The bomb, which exploded on a packed bus during morning rush hour, was attached to the underside of the vehicle and had a powerful explosive device equivalent to two kilograms of TNT, a spokesman for the regional police department told RIA Novosti news agency.

''The explosive device which detonated in the passenger bus had no solid encasement, and was packed with metal fragments, pellets, bolts and screws,'' he said, adding forensic experts had confirmed this.

Of the eight people who lost their lives in the bombing, only one is yet to be officially identified. The majority of the victims of the bomb attack were students on their way to university.

A high-placed source involved in the ongoing criminal investigation said they were currently considering several scenarios.

One of these was a terrorist act, with the bomb having been detonated by either a suicide bomber or by remote control. The second possible scenario being considered is a dispute between criminal groups.

Law enforcement authorities received information two weeks ago that Chechen militant leader Doku Umarov was preparing a large-scale terrorist act, the source said.

Togliatti, an industrial city, is home to Russia's largest automaker AvtoVaz, which produces the Lada cars.

UNI

For Daily Alerts
Get Instant News Updates
Enable
x
Notification Settings X
Time Settings
Done
Clear Notification X
Do you want to clear all the notifications from your inbox?
Settings X
X