Russia bus blast kills several
October 21, 2013
At least six people were killed and several others injured when a blast ripped through a passenger bus in the Russian city of Volgograd on Monday, a spokesperson for the nation's Emergency Situation Ministry reported.
Around 40 people were onboard the bus at the time of the explosion, spokesperson Irina Gogolyeva said.
Russia's National Anti-Terrorism Committee issued a statement shortly after the blast confirming it was caused by an "unidentified explosive device."
The Interfax news agency had earlier suggested a terrorist link, citing an unnamed security source saying the blast may have been the result of a bomb planted on the bus.
"According to preliminary information, it was an unidentified explosive device. So we are looking at an act of terror as one possibility," the source said.
However, Russia's state-run news channel RIA said preliminary information suggested it was caused by a problem with a gas canister.
Volgograd lies north of the restive North Caucasus, a string of Muslim provinces where the government is attempting to quell an Islamist insurgency.
ccp/kms (AFP, Reuters)