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Many killed in Russia bomb attack | Many killed in Russia bomb attack |
(about 1 hour later) | |
At least 20 people have been killed by a bomb at a police station in Russia's southern republic of Ingushetia. | |
The suicide attack in Nazran, Ingushetia's main city, injured more than 60 people, including children. | |
Ingushetia borders Chechnya and has seen a spate of shootings, bombings and other attacks on police and government. | Ingushetia borders Chechnya and has seen a spate of shootings, bombings and other attacks on police and government. |
Russian President Dmitry Medvedev has sacked Ingushetia's interior minister, saying that the "act of terror could have been averted". | |
"The police must protect the people and the police must also be able to defend themselves," Mr Medvedev added. | |
Analysts say the violence spilled over from Chechnya - where rebels have fought against Russian control since the 1990s - in the early part of the decade and has now firmly taken root in Ingushetia. | Analysts say the violence spilled over from Chechnya - where rebels have fought against Russian control since the 1990s - in the early part of the decade and has now firmly taken root in Ingushetia. |
Human rights activists and opposition politicians in Ingushetia told the BBC last year that the republic was now in a situation of "civil war". | Human rights activists and opposition politicians in Ingushetia told the BBC last year that the republic was now in a situation of "civil war". |
In the most high-profile recent attack, Ingush President Yunus-Bek Yevkurov was severely wounded when a suicide bomber attacked his motorcade in June. He has not yet returned to work but is said to be recovering. | In the most high-profile recent attack, Ingush President Yunus-Bek Yevkurov was severely wounded when a suicide bomber attacked his motorcade in June. He has not yet returned to work but is said to be recovering. |
In a statement, he blamed Monday's attack on militants angered by recent security operations along the border with Chechnya. | In a statement, he blamed Monday's attack on militants angered by recent security operations along the border with Chechnya. |
"It was an attempt to destabilise the situation and sow panic," he said. | "It was an attempt to destabilise the situation and sow panic," he said. |
'Not enough blood' | 'Not enough blood' |
Monday's bomb attack was described as the deadliest strike in months in Ingushetia. | Monday's bomb attack was described as the deadliest strike in months in Ingushetia. |
The explosion gutted the building as police lined up for a shift change. | |
ANALYSIS Sarah Rainsford, BBC News This attack is part of a recent surge in violence in the mainly Muslim North Caucasus region of Russia. The large-scale separatist conflict that ravaged Chechnya has now ended after 15 years. In April, the Russian president declared Chechnya to be stable enough to ease security restrictions, and lower the number of Russian troops. | ANALYSIS Sarah Rainsford, BBC News This attack is part of a recent surge in violence in the mainly Muslim North Caucasus region of Russia. The large-scale separatist conflict that ravaged Chechnya has now ended after 15 years. In April, the Russian president declared Chechnya to be stable enough to ease security restrictions, and lower the number of Russian troops. |
But the insurgency in the Caucasus has gradually changed form into an Islamist uprising, and spread beyond Chechnya's borders. Militants have targeted government officials and the security forces in particular, with a combination of deadly gun battles and suicide attacks. | But the insurgency in the Caucasus has gradually changed form into an Islamist uprising, and spread beyond Chechnya's borders. Militants have targeted government officials and the security forces in particular, with a combination of deadly gun battles and suicide attacks. |
President Yunus-Bek Yevkurov was appointed by the Kremlin to head the autonomous republic of Ingushetia - and arrived vowing to end the violence and combat serious corruption. He's still recovering from an attempt on his life. | President Yunus-Bek Yevkurov was appointed by the Kremlin to head the autonomous republic of Ingushetia - and arrived vowing to end the violence and combat serious corruption. He's still recovering from an attempt on his life. |
Images from Nazran showed scenes of devastation within the compound, with nearby homes also badly damaged and burned-out cars strewn nearby. | |
The suicide bomber was reported to have rammed his vehicle into the gates of the police compound as officers were reporting for inspection, government spokesman Kaloi Akhilgov said. | The suicide bomber was reported to have rammed his vehicle into the gates of the police compound as officers were reporting for inspection, government spokesman Kaloi Akhilgov said. |
"Practically all the cars and buildings in the yard of the police headquarters were completely destroyed," Reuters quoted him as saying. | "Practically all the cars and buildings in the yard of the police headquarters were completely destroyed," Reuters quoted him as saying. |
The bomber was assumed to be among the dead, although this could not be confirmed. | The bomber was assumed to be among the dead, although this could not be confirmed. |
Mr Akghilov told the AFP news agency that all of the dead were police, but 11 children were among those injured. Many of those hurt were living in residential buildings adjacent to the police station, he said. | Mr Akghilov told the AFP news agency that all of the dead were police, but 11 children were among those injured. Many of those hurt were living in residential buildings adjacent to the police station, he said. |
Many of the injured were said to be in a serious condition. They were taken to hospitals in Nazran, but Mr Akghilov said the authorities were struggling to cope with the casualties. | Many of the injured were said to be in a serious condition. They were taken to hospitals in Nazran, but Mr Akghilov said the authorities were struggling to cope with the casualties. |
"We have not had such an attack for a long time," he said, adding that hospitals did not have enough blood to treat the injured. | "We have not had such an attack for a long time," he said, adding that hospitals did not have enough blood to treat the injured. |
In pictures: Russian bomb attack | In pictures: Russian bomb attack |
A statement by the Ingushetia state prosecutor's office said the bomb had been driven into the police station inside a small, Russian-made truck called a Gazelle, AFP said. | A statement by the Ingushetia state prosecutor's office said the bomb had been driven into the police station inside a small, Russian-made truck called a Gazelle, AFP said. |
It was estimated to have the force of at least 20kg (44lbs) of TNT explosives, officials said. | It was estimated to have the force of at least 20kg (44lbs) of TNT explosives, officials said. |
Much of the violence in Ingushetia has echoed the continuing violence in Chechnya, with escalating clashes in the past year between pro-Russian security forces and armed militants. | Much of the violence in Ingushetia has echoed the continuing violence in Chechnya, with escalating clashes in the past year between pro-Russian security forces and armed militants. |
Less than a week ago, Ingushetia's construction minister was shot dead by masked gunmen. | Less than a week ago, Ingushetia's construction minister was shot dead by masked gunmen. |
That followed the shooting dead of three employees of Russia's emergencies ministry. | That followed the shooting dead of three employees of Russia's emergencies ministry. |
In Chechnya, Russian forces were engaged in heavy fighting with separatist rebels until a few years ago, though the fighting has become much less intense recently. | In Chechnya, Russian forces were engaged in heavy fighting with separatist rebels until a few years ago, though the fighting has become much less intense recently. |
Are you in Ingushetia? Have you seen or heard the effects of today's bomb attack? Send us your comments using the form below. | Are you in Ingushetia? Have you seen or heard the effects of today's bomb attack? Send us your comments using the form below. |
The BBC may edit your comments and not all emails will be published. Your comments may be published on any BBC media worldwide. Terms & Conditions | The BBC may edit your comments and not all emails will be published. Your comments may be published on any BBC media worldwide. Terms & Conditions |