Military bus explosion in North Ossetia kills 16 passengersRuslan Isayev, North Caucasus - Sixteen people have so far died in an explosion caused by a female suicide bomber near the North Ossetian town of Mozdok, Russia's main military base in the Northern Caucasus.
The staff of the Mozdok air force base was in a bus that stopped near a railway crossing, and there a woman dressed in white approached the bus and blew herself up. The blast ripped through the vehicle as well.
According to North Ossetian officials, eight people were killed instantly and shortly after, seven more died as a result of their injuries. By noon Thursday the number of casualties totaled 16, with five listed in critical condition.
The incident is being investigated by the Military Prosecutor's Office of the North Caucasus Military District.
Thus far none of the Chechen guerillas operating in the region have claimed responsibility for the explosion. However, it is being assumed that the attack is linked to Chechen rebel commander Shamil Basayev. (T/E) |
