Three people - including two police officers - have been killed in an explosion in Moscow, Russian authorities have reported.
The incident occurred on Yeletskaya Street when two traffic police officers noticed a suspicious individual near their patrol car. As they approached the suspect for detention, an explosive device was detonated, according to Russia's Investigative Committee.
Preliminary information suggests that the suspect was also among the deceased; however, this has not been confirmed by official sources.
Interestingly, the blast site was near where a senior Russian general, Lt Gen Fanil Sarvarov, was killed just days prior in a car bombing.
Investigative Committee spokesperson Svetlana Petrenko stated that a criminal case is being pursued regarding an attempted murder of traffic police officers.
The officers have been identified as Ilya Klimanov, 24, and Maxim Gorbunov, 25. Reports from Ukraine’s military intelligence indicate that the two officers had conducted operations against Ukraine and were involved in alleged torture of Ukrainian prisoners.
Sources reported that two additional individuals were hospitalized due to severe injuries from the explosion.
Witnesses described the blast as a loud bang, reminiscent of the previous bombing that killed the general, heightening concerns over potential ongoing targeted attacks.
No concrete evidence has been released regarding alleged involvement by Ukrainian forces in the latest bombing, although Russia has made such claims.
General Sarvarov had previously been a prominent figure within the armed forces, marking him as a significant target.
