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Russia bus bomb: Volgograd blast kills five | Russia bus bomb: Volgograd blast kills five |
(35 minutes later) | |
An explosion that killed at least five people on a bus in the southern Russian city of Volgograd was caused by a bomb, Russia's National Anti-Terrorism Committee has said in a statement. | An explosion that killed at least five people on a bus in the southern Russian city of Volgograd was caused by a bomb, Russia's National Anti-Terrorism Committee has said in a statement. |
The blast, which happened just after 14:00 (10:00 GMT), also injured more than a dozen people, some seriously. | The blast, which happened just after 14:00 (10:00 GMT), also injured more than a dozen people, some seriously. |
Investigators suspect a female suicide bomber, Russian news agencies report. | Investigators suspect a female suicide bomber, Russian news agencies report. |
Cities to the south, in Russia's North Caucasus, have seen attacks by Islamist militants in recent years. | Cities to the south, in Russia's North Caucasus, have seen attacks by Islamist militants in recent years. |
'Criminal case' | 'Criminal case' |
It is believed there were 40 people on board the bus, the BBC's Steve Rosenberg in Moscow reports. | It is believed there were 40 people on board the bus, the BBC's Steve Rosenberg in Moscow reports. |
He says that all buses in Volgograd have been ordered back to their depots to be searched for any sign of explosives. | |
Vladimir Markin, of the Investigative Committee - Russia's equivalent of the FBI - told the RIA Novosti news agency: "A criminal case has been opened under articles outlining terrorism, murder and the illegal use of firearms." | Vladimir Markin, of the Investigative Committee - Russia's equivalent of the FBI - told the RIA Novosti news agency: "A criminal case has been opened under articles outlining terrorism, murder and the illegal use of firearms." |
Other news agencies quoted sources at the committee as saying the suspected suicide bomber was believed to be the partner of a militant Islamist. | |
Earlier reports had suggested the blast may have been caused by an exploding gas canister. | Earlier reports had suggested the blast may have been caused by an exploding gas canister. |
Volgograd lies about 900km (560 miles) south of Moscow. | Volgograd lies about 900km (560 miles) south of Moscow. |
President Vladimir Putin has stepped up security in the North Caucasus ahead of the 2014 Winter Olympics, which open in the Black Sea resort city of Sochi on 7 February. | President Vladimir Putin has stepped up security in the North Caucasus ahead of the 2014 Winter Olympics, which open in the Black Sea resort city of Sochi on 7 February. |
Separatists in Chechnya have fought two wars with Russian forces over the past two decades. | Separatists in Chechnya have fought two wars with Russian forces over the past two decades. |
But the violence has spread across the North Caucasus in recent years, including to mainly-Muslim Ingushetia and Dagestan. | But the violence has spread across the North Caucasus in recent years, including to mainly-Muslim Ingushetia and Dagestan. |
Hundreds of people, including members of the government and security services, have been killed. | Hundreds of people, including members of the government and security services, have been killed. |