Global General

Twin suicide blasts rock barracks in Russia, killing 3

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2010-09-05 09:25

MOSCOW - Two suicide bombing hit a military base in Russia's North Caucasus republic of Dagestan early Sunday morning, killing at least 3 people and injuring over 20 others, Russian media reported.

The first blast happened as a suicide bomber rammed an explosive-stuffed Lada car through the gate of the 136th motorized rifle brigade's military base in the town of Buinaksk, leaving at least three people dead and 26 wounded, said a source from the regional Interior Ministry.

Related readings:  Baghdad suicide bomb hits army recruits, kills 61  73 killed in fresh suicide bomb attack in Pakistan  Suicide bomber kills six police in Afghan north

Many of the injured were in a serious condition, the source was quoted by the RIA Novosti news agency as saying.

The bomber died in the explosion, the Itar-Tass news agency reported.

A second blast occurred when rescuers and investigators rushed to the scene, the Interfax news agency reported.

These are the latest of a series of attacks against targets representing the Russian government in the region.

Dagestan's Minister of National Policy, Foreign Relations and Information Bekmurza Bekmurzayev was wounded Saturday when his car exploded in the regional capital of Makhchkala. His driver was killed and his bodyguard wounded in the bombing.

Violence is common in Russia's mainly Muslim North Caucasus republics, especially Chechnya, Dagestan and Ingushetia, with militants frequently targeting police and officials as representatives of Russian authorities.