MAKHACHKALA. April 8 (Interfax-AVN) - A powerful improvised explosive device was discovered outside an Orthodox church in Makhachkala, the capital of the North Caucasus republic of Dagestan, early on Friday morning.
The bomb was found near the gate of the church, which is located near the Kirovsky District Interior Department, which contains a detention facility, at around 3:50 a.m. Moscow time on Friday (2350 GMT on Thursday), local police told Interfax. Apart from the detention center, the police headquarters also houses several services of the Dagestani Interior Ministry, including the republic's department for fighting crimes using high technologies.
A preliminary report suggests that the bomb contained from 400 to 500 grams of TNT and was fitted with a timing mechanism and an electric detonator. Police used a water cannon to destroy the explosive device.
This was the second bomb discovered and destroyed in Makhachkala last night.
The first, which is believed to have contained up to 1.5 kilograms of TNT, was destroyed at 00:40 a.m. Moscow time on Friday (2040 GMT on Thursday), said sources in local Federal Security Service branch. The explosive device was discovered outside the building of the Dagestani Emergency Situations Ministry late on Thursday.
Another bomb went off outside Makhachkala's dairy plant at 00:20 a.m. Moscow time on Friday (2020 GMT on Thursday).