Bomb derails train in Russia
The derailment of a train travelling from the Chechen capital Grozny to Moscow today was apparently caused by an explosion on the tracks, the Federal Security Service said.
Twelve people were injured.
An FSB spokeswoman said the train’s driver reported that an explosion occurred on the tracks in front of the train.
The spokeswoman also said a crater and wires were found at the site, 90 miles south of Moscow.
FSB spokeswoman Diana Shemyakina said that four cars of the train went off the tracks and 12 people were injured, including a one-year-old girl.
State-run Channel One television showed footage of the derailed cars, which did not overturn.
The incident occurred on a national holiday, the Day of Russia, hours before President Vladimir Putin held a reception and awards ceremony in the Kremlin.
Many Chechen rebel attacks have been timed for significant Russian holidays.
Russian news agencies initially reported that the derailment, which occurred shortly after 7am local time, was caused by an explosion, but later cited Moscow region authorities as saying that a preliminary investigation indicated a technical cause.
Trains started travelling between the Chechen and Russian capitals only a year ago following a close to five-year interruption due to the war in Chechnya.
The city’s central railroad station was destroyed early in the fighting, which began in September 1999, and nearby tracks were damaged.
The train, which takes two days to make the trip, travels twice a week.
