ROSTOV-ON-DON. March 12 (Interfax-AVN) - Three members of armed groups were killed when explosives they were transporting in their cars accidentally went off in the Baksan district in the Republic of Kabardino-Balkaria in Russia's North Caucasus, Kabardino-Balkaria's Interior Ministry said in a press release on Tuesday.
"Two cars - a VAZ-2107 and a Hyundai - were surrounded by police on the outskirts of the village of Baksanenok. The people sitting in them put up armed resistance and police officers fired back. During the shootout, explosive devices the three militants were transporting in their cars accidentally blew up, as a result of which the militants are believed to have sustained injuries incompatible with life," it said.
None of the civilians and the police officers was killed or injured in the incident, it said.
The site of the incident has been condoned off and investigators are working there.
A counterterrorist operation has been under way in Baksan since around midnight.
A source in law enforcement agencies said earlier that several gunmen were reportedly hiding in a building in the town.
This district was sealed off last night and a search operation started this morning, when a shootout with unknown persons erupted, he said.
The source also said that two suspicious-looking cars had been spotted near the village of Baksanenok. The drivers ignored policemen's orders to produce their IDs, after which a shootout broke out, setting fire to both cars. Three armed persons sitting in them were killed, he said.