MINSK. Dec 9 (Interfax) - Operatives of the Belarusian State Security Committee (KGB) and the Interior Ministry have detained eight members of a criminal group, which is accused of setting fire to a police officer's house in Volkovysk and blowing up a car of a law enforcement officer in Grodno, the STV television channel reported.
"Eight people were detained in this case," the television channel's report said.
Former political prisoner and businessman Nikolai Avtukhovich was named the leader of the criminal group on the state television. Members of this gang are accused of setting fire to the house and car of a police officer in Volkovysk on October 2, as well as the explosion of a police officer's car on the night of November 20 in Grodno.
During the search of Avtukhovich's garage and his car and those who helped him to hide, the operatives found weapons, TNT bombs, grenades, walkie-talkies, the television channel said.
"Together with the police, the KGB is engaged in the investigation of the criminal case. Now, other possible members of the criminal group are being identified," the report said.
The investigators have grounds "to qualify this crime as an act of terrorism," head of the KGB investigative department Konstantin Bychek said.