The explosion on the Krasnoflotskaya street in the Chechen capital Grozny sounded at 4:35 p.m., Moscow time, when a truck convoy was passing. Acting president Sergei Abramov was in one of them.
"As a result of the explosion, Abramov's aide Andrei Aleksintsev and presidential security service officer Zhamirz Baimuradov got fragmentation wounds. Sergei Tsyplin of the Federal Bodyguard Service died," the prosecutor said. Abramov has not suffered.
"It is too early to say if this act was aimed against Abramov. We cannot be sure today but we'll consider this version as working," Kravchenko said.
Criminal proceedings for "terrorism" and "murder " have been launched.
"By preliminary information, a 152-mm remote-controlled artillery shell was used," the prosecutor said. Elements of the explosive device have been removed from the site, he said.
"Investigation will show how this could have happened. This road leads to Khankala (the Joint Group of Forces in the North Caucasus is found there) and is used regularly. Cannot security be ensured here?" Kravchenko wondered.
