In brief
In a shocking incident in Moscow, an explosion has claimed the lives of two traffic police officers. The officers were attempting to detain a suspicious individual when an explosive device detonated. Russian authorities have launched a criminal investigation into the attack. The incident bears similarities to a recent car bombing in the city that killed a high-ranking military officer.
Three people - including two police officers - have been killed in an explosion in Moscow, Russian authorities have said.
Two traffic police officers saw a suspicious individual near a police car on the city's Yeletskaya Street, and when they approached the suspect to detain him, an explosive device was detonated, Russia's Investigative Committee has stated.
Reports in Russia indicate that the third person killed was the suspect, although this remains unconfirmed. The blast occurred near where a senior Russian general was killed in a car bombing last week.
Investigate Committee spokesperson Svetlana Petrenko announced that a criminal case is being pursued in Moscow regarding an attempt on the lives of traffic police officers. The officers have been named as Ilya Klimanov, 24, and Maxim Gorbunov, 25.
Sources in Ukraine's military intelligence agency, HUR, suggested that a local resident had targeted the officers in response to the Kremlin's aggressive policy. They reported that a man threw an explosive package into the police car, leading to the explosion.
Two additional individuals were reportedly hospitalized with serious injuries following the incident. HUR sources noted that the slain officers had participated in hostilities against Ukraine and may have engaged in the torture of Ukrainian prisoners of war.
Local resident Alexander described the explosion as a loud bang reminiscent of the earlier car bombing incident.
Following the explosion that killed General Fanil Sarvarov, Russia has accused Ukraine without providing direct evidence. Meanwhile, Ukraine has remained silent on its involvement in the general's death.
General Sarvarov was the third military official killed in Moscow bomb attacks over the past year.
