GROZNY. Dec 27 (Interfax-AVN) - Two powerful explosions occurred in downtown Grozny on Friday afternoon.
Witnesses told Interfax that one bomb went off near the Chechen government building, and the other possibly exploded inside the building. The witnesses said the blasts caused numerous casualties, and a significant number of people have been hospitalized.
Head of the Chechen civil administration Ahmad Kadyrov, who is currently not in Grozny, confirmed to Interfax that the explosions caused casualties.
The bombs went off almost simultaneously at about 1:30 p.m. Moscow time (1030 GMT), a source with the Chechen law enforcement agencies told Interfax. Preliminary information indicates that the devices were planted under a tree decorated for the New Year's 40 meters from the building.
NTV television broadcast a tape from Grozny. All windows and doors in the government building have been broken, but the building itself did not collapse. The square in front of the government complex is scattered with debris. Many slightly injured people can be seen moving on their own among burnt cars.
An NTV correspondent said one of the two bombs, which were set off within half a minute of one another, was likely planted under a decorated tree on the square.