In a dramatic escalation of violence in Russia’s capital, a bomb blast in southern Moscow early Wednesday killed three people, including two police officers, law enforcement officials reported. The incident occurred in close proximity to the location where high-ranking Russian Lieutenant General Fanil Sarvarov was killed in a car bomb attack just days before, intensifying fears of targeted attacks in the city.
Police Officers Targeted While Approaching Suspicious Individual
According to the Russian Investigative Committee, the explosion took place after traffic police officers approached a man behaving suspiciously near their patrol car on Yeletskaya Street. When the officers moved in, an explosive device detonated, killing them and a third individual at the scene. Investigators have cordoned off the area and are conducting forensic analysis to determine the exact cause and responsibility for the blast.
Eyewitnesses described hearing a powerful bang that jolted nearby residents, with emergency services swiftly sealing off streets and collecting evidence in the wake of the explosion. Local media reports suggest the third fatality may have been the suspect involved, though officials have not confirmed this.
Connection to Recent General’s Killing Prompts Broader Inquiry
The deadly explosion occurred just days after Lieutenant General Fanil Sarvarov, head of the Russian Armed Forces’ operational training directorate, was killed by a car bomb in southern Moscow — a killing that Russian authorities have linked to possible foreign intelligence involvement, though no independent confirmation has been made. The proximity of the two incidents has raised questions about growing security threats in the Russian capital.
Russian investigators have launched criminal proceedings into the latest explosion and are exploring links between the two attacks as they seek to identify perpetrators and motivations. No group has claimed responsibility for either incident so far, and international reactions remain muted.
